A large Roman bronze wine jug handle, decorated with the foreparts of two panthers facing in opposing directions. The curved section of the handle is cast and engraved with stylised foliage. Panthers were associated with Bacchus, god of wine and drinking, so they make a fitting decoration for the handle of a wine jug. This piece exhibits an even, deep dark green patina. There is obvious damage where the handle was attached to the main body of the jug, and there is a break in the curved section of the handle which has been repaired at some point. This high quality artefact dates to the 1st or 2nd century AD, and is a very evocative piece of Roman history.

Dimensions: 46 mm x 58 mm.

References: Benet's Artefacts of England & the United Kingdom, Third Edition: R21-0307.