Banquet Couch

Description The dining room, or "triclinium," of a Roman house derived its name from the three couches that were grouped at right angles to one another in a U-shape. Wealthy citizens ate while reclining on these couches. On this example, bronze fittings decorate a wood frame (restored). Straps originally would have supported a mattress covered with luxurious textiles. The ends of the couch are decorated with bronze fulcra, the curving ends of the armrests, which terminate in lion heads in the front and duck heads in the back. Couches were highly valued pieces of furniture that were often buried with honored family members.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
10/03/1949	Treatment	stabilized; coated; cleaned; other
6/01/1950	Treatment	stabilized
5/14/1968	Treatment	stabilized
1/23/1978	Treatment	cleaned; coated; other
1/22/1992	Treatment	repaired

Exhibitions

• In Search of Ancient Treasure: 40 Years of Collecting. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1978.
• From Alexander to Cleopatra: Greek Art of the Hellenistic Age. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1988-1989.

Provenance [Found in a Chamber tomb near Canossa (?)]; Arnold Ruesch, Zurich; Ruesch Collection Sale, Lucerne, 1936; William Randolph Hearst, San Simeon, 1936, by purchase; Joseph Brummer, New York, by purchase; Brummer Collection Sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, June 8, 1949, p. 8, no. 38; Walters Art Museum, 1949, by purchase.

Credit Museum purchase, 1949