Bronze funnel-strainer

Unknown

ca. 550–500 BCE · Bronze · Greek and Roman Art

The Etruscans used metal and sometimes ceramic sieves to strain wine when ladling it from large mixing vessels into pitchers from which it could then be served. Thus, such utensils are part of the Etruscan ritual banquet and often appear in the hands of servants depicted in tomb frescoes. These two bronze examples are beautifully crafted with ornamental handles terminating in ram's and duck's heads. The better preserved strainer has two rampant lions sitting on its rim.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 550–500 BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Etruscan

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1934