1st century BC-1st century AD. A bronze ewer or jug handle formed as a lentoid-section strap with incised lines and points; to the upper end a crescentic bracket with socket to the underside to accept the lip of the vessel, thumb-pad formed as a female head modelled in the round with hair dressed in a chignon; to the lower end, a facing female theatrical mask with diadem and hair dressed in braided hanks, flanking palmette detailing. Cf. Rolland, H. Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 303 for a similar item. 168 grams, 14cm (5 1/2"). Ex Horton collection; formerly in a German collection, 1990. The mask is highly stylised and may be based on Hellenistic models; the hairstyle of the thumb-pad head is a 1st century type, possibly representing an empress (?"). Very fine condition.