This silver-plated bowl is a beautiful replica of a Roman patera, or phiale, from the Hildesheim Treasure; unearthed in Hildesheim, Germany on October 17, 1868. The Hildesheim Treasure is the largest collection of Roman silver found outside the imperial frontiers, believed to have been the table service of a Roman commander, possibly Publius Quintilius Varus. This example is a replica of the patera containing the bust of a deity, probably Deus Lunus, dressed in a Phrygian cap, with a toga looped at the shoulder, a torc around the neck, and a crescent moon behind each shoulder. The edges of the patera are smooth with a circular indentation at the bottom to facilitate holding it for libation. There are two inscriptions at the bottom of the patera: the first, written in German, translates, "Replica of the Hildesheim silver find" and the second is the name of the manufacturer (Th.Blume)

Hildesheim, Germany - CA Late 19th Century

D: 7 1/2 in., (19 cm.)