A rare antique sterling silver Bacchanalian pattern cream ladle, London 1852 by H J Lias & Son The handle with a cast scene Dionysus scene, to the front Dionysus shown riding a panther, the panther being fed grapes by a maenad holding a thyrsus along slide a sleeping maenad holding a cymbal, the reverse with a amphora with two crossed thrysoi, the heel of the spoon stylised as a mask and curtain as an allegory of theatre. The bowl flat bottomed. Length – 16 cm / 6.25 inches Weight - 73 grams / 2.3 ozt Maenads, who held thyrsoi as weapons, were often shown asleep yet in wakefulness are aggressive sexual beings engaging in night time rituals, they were responsible for the murder of Pentheus, king of Thebes, in the Sparagmos ritual who was lured there by Dionysus. Dionysus who wore a panther skin cloak had a chariot driven by panthers and is Greek god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, also known as Bacchus.