Roman Leaded Bronze Balsamarium w/ Chain
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An attractive hanging vessel exhibiting a leaded bronze, teardrop-form body with a corseted neck and a flared and folded rim. A tubular brass handle arches high above the vessel, held in place by a pair of suspension loops that flank the rim and attach to a brass chain of infinity links capped with a circular brass ring for hanging the vessel. Each terminal of the lovely handle extends upwards, displaying a decorative finial. Size: 2.7" Diameter x 6.3" H (6.9 cm x 16 cm); 7.1" H (18 cm) on included custom stand.
Balsamaria were, as the name suggests, used for holding balsam, the resinous, sap-like product of many different plants, as well as the oil used by athletes to clean their skin. Balsamaria most often depict women's or satyr's heads, but some are more abstract, like this example. Cosmetics were as important to the ancient Romans as they are to us today, used by men and women, and with specialized equipment made for holding them. Often balsamaria were so important that they were buried with their owners and some, like one of a woman's head at the British Museum (1868,0601.3) were made exclusively to be placed into tombs with offerings rather than used by the living.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#144198
Condition Report: Expected abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice patina.
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Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. An attractive hanging vessel exhibiting a leaded bronze, teardrop-form body with a corseted neck and a flared and folded rim. A tubular brass handle arches high above the vessel, held in place by a pair of suspension loops that flank the rim and attach to a brass chain of infinity links capped with a circular brass ring for hanging the vessel. Each terminal of the lovely handle extends upwards, displaying a decorative finial. Size: 2.7" Diameter x 6.3" H (6.9 cm x 16 cm); 7.1" H (18 cm) on included custom stand.
Balsamaria were, as the name suggests, used for holding balsam, the resinous, sap-like product of many different plants, as well as the oil used by athletes to clean their skin. Balsamaria most often depict women's or satyr's heads, but some are more abstract, like this example. Cosmetics were as important to the ancient Romans as they are to us today, used by men and women, and with specialized equipment made for holding them. Often balsamaria were so important that they were buried with their owners and some, like one of a woman's head at the British Museum (1868,0601.3) were made exclusively to be placed into tombs with offerings rather than used by the living.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#144198
Condition Report: Expected abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice patina.
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Time, Location
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