vase

Humphrey Palmer

Summary

Public: Urn shaped lidded vase made of stoneware, black basalt, with applied relief ram's head masks and medallions showing Nero, and Apollo and Marsyas. Private: Urn shaped vase with flat shoulder, narrow neck, and spreading foot on plain square plinth. Body decorated with two applied relief medallions suspended by simulated hooks and rings on each side, one with a portrait of Nero, the other a scene depicting Apollo and Marsyas. Husk festoon suspended from two high relief ram's head masks at shoulder, hanging from the horns in four deep loops beneath medallions and masks. Lower body below decorated with narrow beaded band, shoulder above with inset crenelated fret border. Plain shoulder with two loop handles above ram's head masks, tapering to narrow neck flaring at top to thick curved ridge beneath short straight rim. Ill-fitting cover (probably not original), dome shaped with engine-turned ribbing and acorn finial.