A Greek omphalos phiale in bronze
5th – 4th century BC; diam. cm 19,5; alt. cm 3; A bronze phiale with a ridged rim, a shallow tapering basin and an omphalos at its centre. The inside of the basin is ribbed and the omphalos is encircled by an intricate series of interweaving lines.
There are traces of the original metal plating. In ancient Greece the term omphalos (navel) referred to the stone sacred to Apollo, situated in the sanctuary of Delphi. The omphalos form featured inside some phialae not only bestows religious value but also facilitates ease of handling: the phiale was held in one hand with the middle finger in the outer depression and the thumb supporting the side.

PROVENANCE:
English private collection, purchased in 2000s from Herakles Numismatik und Antiquitäten GmbH (München); previously acquired on the European art market in the 1970s.

Estimate: GBP: 400-500