Bronze reclining banqueter
Greek, about 530-500 BC
Probably made at Sparta but said to have been found in the
Sanctuary of Zeus at Dodona, Epirus, Greece
A relaxed-looking banqueter enjoying the feast
This smiling banqueter is shown reclining on a couch in a
typical way, his left hand holding a shallow dish, his right
resting casually on his raised right knee. The details of his hair
and beard are attractively rendered, and his smile, though a
characteristic feature of Archaic Greek sculpture, adds to his
relaxed appearance.
We know that large-scale bronzes were produced in the sixth
century BC, but few have survived the common fate in antiquity of
being melted down for the metal to be re-used. The qualities of
small pieces such as this perhaps show us what has been lost. The
piece is beautifully worked, with flowing lines, intricate detail
and a wonderfully smooth finish.
Many of the most accomplished bronzes to have survived are
associated with Sparta, which traditionally had a reputation for
skilful bronze-casting. Both this piece and a bronze of a running
girl found at Prizren, Serbia are thought to be Spartan
products.
Small bronzes are frequently found in tombs, but were also
dedicated in sanctuaries. This example is supposed to have come
from the Sanctuary of Zeus at Dodona in north-western Greece, the
site of an oracle in antiquity.
L. Burn, The British Museum book of Gre (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)