5th]4th century B.C.
Gold
H. 9.8 cm, Dia. 7.6 cm
This high-footed cup form is thought to originally have been a censer. The foot with its rounded bottom is incised from the center of the base with a radiating pattern of thin lines which rise up the sides of the foot. This may have been designed to represent the rising smoke of the incense. The upper body of this censer is covered with a grooved pattern of long flower petals, and there is a rounded protruding band between vessel foot and body, an area also circled by a narrow band of lotus and palmette designs. The upper edge of the vessel rim is cut into a diagonal cut form, while the grooved pattern length differs depending on the shape of the vessel. Four equally spaced rings are attached to the interior point of attachment between body and rim, and these are thought to have been used to attach chains.
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