Illustrated Architecture Dictionary ..... Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary

Patera
PAT er a
Plural: paterae (pron. PAT er ee)


Architecture

A bas-relief decorative oval or circular ornament, resembling a shallow dish

Origin: A saucerlike vessel or dish of earthenware or metal used by the ancient Romans for drinking and libations at sacrifices

Latin: "patere = to lie open

Similar to a rosette which is not as shallow in depth as a patera

Found in Classical Roman architecture and almost all later western styles of architecture

Furniture

An ornamented feature, either circular or oval, which could be wood, ivory, metal, etc. It was normally carved, incised, inlaid or even painted.

Examples from Buffalo: