Kisné Cseh Julianna – Somorjai József szerk.: Komárom – Esztergom Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 5. (Tata, 1997)

Tóth Endre: To the interpretation of the late antique medallions with portraits of juveniles. (Late Roman Silver Spoon from Bajna)

To the interpretation of the late antique medallions with portraits of juveniles Late Roman Silver Spoon from Bajna Endre Tóth The silver spoon (cochlearet in Latin) decorated with portrait-medallions from Bajna was probably made in the second part of the IV. century. Its polished decoration and gilt takes it out from the everyday used cutlery. It was probably used at banquet diners and special occasions only. The juvenile portraits, decorating the inner part of the spoon are neither historical personalities nor individual portraits. They formaly follow the portrait types of the Imperial Age and the IV. century. Since the circular frame, containig the portrait, is small. There is a little possibility to put attributums in it. Yet some marks show thet some of the juveniles wings, so the portrait or some of them must be connected to the Eros-circle. Since Eros and it relations just like season personifications were also presented without wings, the small round medallions could easly leave them. Finally it was also influential in spreading of medallion-portraits that the custom of sculpture in the round hermula decoration, only face and head portrayal, became common in free-from-ideology and Christian circles. Plain round field portraits also appeared in applied arts among the decoration of the earlier imago clipeata-i

'rame. The portrait medallions could become plain decorations, but the appearance of wings from time and the delievation of branches and plants shows that their iconological content was kept as well. They symbolized the eternal life, the renewal, the coming of félicitas temporum, according to the general sphere of ideas of the times which was closely connected to the emperor worship. The spoon, decorated with portraits of juveniles in this sphere of thoughts could have been rather a gift presented at birth or at New Year's Day. 386