Terminal or protomes of a rhyton (drinking vessel or libation vessel) of Parthian origin, representing the bust (front part) of a panther. In Parthian art, the panther is a recurring motif due to the strong influence of Hellenistic culture; it was an animal sacred to Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, which made it ideal for decorating banquet vessels. Ritons had a hole in the bottom (sometimes in the chest or mouth of the animal) through which the liquid flowed in a continuous stream directly into the drinker's mouth or for ritual offerings. Provenance: French private collection formed in the 1980s/ Acquired at Auction House, France, 2026 Statement seen by Catawiki. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days. For buyers outside the European Union (EU) a Spanish export license is required. This will take several weeks to arrange. Due to Switzerland customs regulations, this lot cannot be sold to customers residing in Switzerland