Egypt, Abu Mina, Coptic Culture, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A delightful pottery pilgrim flask or ampulla presenting a flattened, discoid body adorned on each side with a decorative relief tondo of Saint Menas between 2 camels encircled by a stippled border. A conical spout rises from the top of the vessel, flanked by a pair of tubular arched handles that connect neck to shoulder. Saint Menas was said to be a late-third-century Egyptian Roman soldier who was martyred for his Christian faith. His body was then carried back to Egypt on the backs of 2 camels, hence the camels accompanying him here. Flasks like this one were used by pilgrims to bring home water or oil from the great pilgrimage site for Saint Menas in Abu Mina, Egypt. Size: 2.7" W x 3.5" H (6.9 cm x 8.9 cm); 4.4" H (11.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 27.94.27.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Agora Auctions, New York, New York, USA, April 19, 2022, lot 303; ex-private Southern California, USA collection

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#172630

Professionally repaired with restoration. Surface wear as shown with nicks, abrasions, and softening of detail, especially to relief on one side, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice with light earthen deposits.