Important Pair Of "townley" Vases After The Antique

Important pair of "Townley" vases after the antique Krater-shaped, decorated with a bas-relief frieze of figures in the antique style. Patinated metal Molded marble base Original patina Very good condition Period 19th The Townley vase is a large Roman marble vase from the 2nd century AD, discovered in 1773 by the Scottish antiquary and dealer in antiquities Gavin Hamilton, at Monte Cagnolo, between Genzano and Civita Lavinia, near Lanuvium, southeast of Rome. The ovoid vase, 93 cm high, has scroll handles in the manner of a ceramic Krater. It is carved with a deep bas-relief frieze occupying most of the body, illustrating a Bacchanalian procession. Its name comes from the English collector Charles Townley, who purchased it from Hamilton in 1774 for £250. Townley's collection, long on display in his London home on Park Street, was purchased for the British Museum after his death in 1805.