4th-5th century A.D. A silver spoonposed of a piriform bowl. swan neck and tapering, balustered stem; the neck formed as a feline with pricked ears, hooded eyes and mouth slightly ajar, with stylised mane and coat detailing, reverse of the bowl decoratively incised with stylised palm fronds; apanied by a custom-made display stand. See Shelton, K.J., The Esquiline Treasure, London, 1981, pl.34; cf. Riha, E. & Stern, W.B., Die Römischen Löffel aus Augst und Kaiseraugst, Basel, 1982, items 218-221, for type; cf. Johns, K. and Potter, T., The Thetford Treasure, Roman jewellery and silver, Dorchester, 1983, items 50-82, for type; cf. Spier, J., Treasures of the Ferrell Collection, Wiesbaden, 2010, p.278, items 218-222, for type. 53 grams, 24.7 cm (202 grams total, 26 cm including stand) (9 3/4 in. (10 1/4 in.)). Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. A relatively large number of similar liturgical spoons in silver have been discovered in treasure hoards dating between the late 4th and early 5th centuries A.D. The famous Thetford Treasure included spoons withparable zoomorphic elements (Johns and Potter, 1983, pp.38ff. and 121ff.); as did the mid 4th century Kaiseraugst Treasure from Switzerland, and the Esquiline Treasure from Rome (Shelton, 1981, pl.34). [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions .]