Patera (architecture)
File:Arco_gotico_con_rilievi_Strada_Nuova_Venezia_dettaglio.jpg
In architecture, patera ({{plural form|paterae}}) is an ornamental circular or elliptical bas-relief disc.{{cite web |title=Fragment of Roman frieze(?) enrichment: a patera with a floral centre |url=http://collections.soane.org/object-s3 |website=CollectionsOnline |accessdate=3 September 2019 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Saylor |first1=Henry H. |title=Dictionary of Architecture |date=1994 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9780471756019 |page=128 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YIhZQkLdV5gC&pg=PA128 |accessdate=3 September 2019 |language=en}} The patera is usually used to decorate friezes and walls, and to interrupt moldings.{{cite book |last1=Parker |first1=John Henry |title=A Glossary of Terms Used in Grecian, Roman, Italian, and Gothic Architecture |date=1845 |publisher=J.H. Parker |page=[https://archive.org/details/aglossarytermsu10parkgoog/page/n289 274] |url=https://archive.org/details/aglossarytermsu10parkgoog |quote=patera architecture. |accessdate=3 September 2019 |language=en}} Patera is also used in furniture-making. It can be carved, incised, inlaid, or even painted.{{cite web |last1=Furniture |first1=Mackinnon Fine |title=The ABCs of Decorative Arts: Patera |url=https://thesourceforantiques.wordpress.com/2019/08/06/the-abcs-of-decorative-arts-patera/ |website=The Source |accessdate=3 September 2019 |language=en |date=6 August 2019}}{{cite web |title=Patera and Paterae |url=https://www.lynn-byrne.com/posts/patera-and-paterae |website=Lynn Byrne |date=28 May 2013 |accessdate=3 September 2019}}
Overview
The patera is found in the ancient Roman architecture and in almost all later western styles of architecture.{{cite web |title=Patera |url=https://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/p/patera.html |website=Buffalo as an Architectural Museum |publisher=buffaloah.com |accessdate=3 September 2019}} The patera is used both within the civil and church architecture is usually made of marble or Istrian stone. It has a variable diameter between 20 and 80 cm, while the thickness is around 10 cm. The subject represented in the bas-relief is generally of floral or animal type, but there are also figures symbolizing trades or people.{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Ann Reynolds |title=Cosa: The Black-glaze Pottery 2 |date=2008 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=9780472115853 |page=62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qWs_ENRsmcsC&pg=PA62 |accessdate=3 September 2019 |language=en}} Being mainly a decorative element, the patera may also perform an apotropaic function to keep away evil spirits.
Gallery
Patera Corte seconda del Milion e porticato del teatro Venezia.jpg|Patera in the Corte seconda del Milion court and the romanesque archway Sotoportego del Teatro in Venice.
Chiesa di Santa Margherita Venice detail.JPG|Detail of the church Santa Margherita in Venice.
Lunetta con uccello pescatore Fontego dei Turchi Venezia.jpg|Lunette above the entrance to the Fondaco dei Turchi reconstructed in neobyzantine stile by Federico Berchet AD 1869 in Venice.
Chiesa dei Carmini ingresso laterale 2 Venezia.jpg|Entrance to the Carmini church in Venice.
Volto Santo Rio tera Maddalena Venezia.jpg|Volto Santo on the Strada Nuova in Cannaregio Venice.