Roman Rock Crystal Amphoriskos
1st century BC-1st century AD. A carved rock crystal jar with squat body, broad shoulder and everted rim, lateral strap handles. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] 45 grams, 37mm (1 1/4"). From a private Belgian collection; previously part of a private collection formed in Germany in the 1990s. The amphoriskos would have held perfume or scented oil that would have been made from expensive and exotic ingredients to match the container. Many perfumes would have been traded along the so-called 'Incense Road', a trade route that went from Yemen and Arabia to the cosmopolitan cities of the Mediterranean. Other ingredients for perfume were mainly home-grown flowers such as iris and marjoram, roses, lilies, and violets. Perfume was worn by both men and women and was central to cult worship as it was seen as pleasing to the gods and able to win their favour.
Condition Report: Very fine condition.
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1st century BC-1st century AD. A carved rock crystal jar with squat body, broad shoulder and everted rim, lateral strap handles. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] 45 grams, 37mm (1 1/4"). From a private Belgian collection; previously part of a private collection formed in Germany in the 1990s. The amphoriskos would have held perfume or scented oil that would have been made from expensive and exotic ingredients to match the container. Many perfumes would have been traded along the so-called 'Incense Road', a trade route that went from Yemen and Arabia to the cosmopolitan cities of the Mediterranean. Other ingredients for perfume were mainly home-grown flowers such as iris and marjoram, roses, lilies, and violets. Perfume was worn by both men and women and was central to cult worship as it was seen as pleasing to the gods and able to win their favour.
Condition Report: Very fine condition.
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Time, Location
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