1st-2nd century A.D. A bronze ladleprising a hemispherical bowl with a flat-section handle, ribbed bulb above and round-section hook with collar detailing, finial formed as a swan head with punched eyes. Cf. Tassinari, S., La Vaisselle de Bronze, Romaine et Provinciale, au Musée des Antiquités Nationales, XXIXe supplément de Gallia, Paris, 1975, items 40-3, for ladles with similar animal-head finials; cf. also Boucher, S., Inventaire des Collections Publiques Françaises - 17 Vienne: Bronzes Antiques, Paris, 1971; pp.168-169, for similar specimens. 145 grams, 27 cm (10 5/8 in."). UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. This type of ladle was used for libations of wine to the gods during sacrifices. The shape of the simpulum was that of a small cup, with a single elongated handle. The material of which it was made varied according to the wealth of the altar; there were specimens in silver; some were of brass and others made of wood or terracotta. This simpulum or simpuvium is often found depicted on Roman medals. Thus a coin of the gens Seslia bears on the reverse a tripod having on its left a sacena oracieris, or pontifical axe (securis pontificalis) and on its right a simpulum. Another coin, belonging to the gens Sulpicia, displays a simpulum between a knife and a sacena oracieris on the reverse.Condition Report: Fine condition.