Stand

Perched on four small lion’s paws edged with palmettes, this stand comprises a square plate; a tapering cylindrical riser with a flaring base and a raised collar; and a flat, broad, round plate on which a separate vessel—perhaps a large krater, a bowl used for mixing wine and water at drinking parties - would stand.Like the Greeks before them, the Romans diluted their wine with water. This practice gave rise to a variety of containers and utensils designed for the mixing and serving of wine. As part of an ornate table service, a krater elevated on a stand like this one would have made a striking presentation.As was frequently the case with Roman bronze implements, the various parts of the stand were cast separately and then assembled.