Greek Libation Shell Pin - The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Permanent Collection > Greek and Roman Art

Greek Libation Shell Pin

ENLARGE

Our gracefully contoured pin is adapted from a Greek marble libation shell (5th century B.C.) once used for pouring ceremonial wine. The original shell, now in the Museum’s Greek and Roman collection, shows traces of painting, which was common for luxurious vessels at the time. The care with which every detail of a real shell has been rendered in the marble sculpture is remarkable. The conical body consists of two hollow pieces: the so-called body whorl, contiguous to the fan-shaped lip, and the spiral. Each was carved separately and attached, evidently to facilitate the hollowing of the marble. A small hole near the middle of the body whorl suggests that the object was used as a libation vessel, and liquid would have trickled out of the body into the concave lip.

24K gold plate, lightly antiqued. Length 2 1/2 in., width 2 in.

Greek Libation Shell Pin
09-077850
Member Price: $49.50 each
Non-Member Price: $55.00 each

Quantity:


Sale - Bronze Age Spiral Pin Member Price: $33.75 Non-Member Price: $37.50		Sale - Sunburst Pin/Pendant 09-019647 Member Price: $43.88 Non-Member Price: $48.75

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