Egypt, Romano-Egyptian to Coptic Period, ca. 4th to 7th century CE. A mold-formed pottery flask depicting Saint Menas, an early Christian martyr, on both sides. On either side of the figure is a camel kneeling in reverence while Saint Menas holds out his arms in prayer, and in the background is a pair of tall processional crosses. Flasks of Saint Menas like this example were used by pilgrims to Menas' shrine - built southwest of Alexandria in Egypt - to hold oil from the lamp that burned above Menas' tomb. Size: 2.66" W x 4.07" H (6.8 cm x 10.3 cm)

Exhibited at the Minneapolis Museum of Art with the Lily Place collection, 1925 to 1958, ref. no. 25.345; at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 1986 to 1991; in the University of Arizona Museum of Art, October 1993 to December 1993; and in in the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA), California State University, San Bernardino from 1996 to 2023, reference number EL01.174.1996.

Published in Dr. Gerry D. Scott III. "Temple, Tomb and Dwelling: Egyptian Antiquities from the Harer Family Trust Collection." University of California Press, 1992, fig. 74c, pp. 118-119, 121.

Cf. du Bourguet, Pierre M. "The Art of the Copts." New York, 1967, fig. 17, pp. 86, 93; also Bourriau, Janine. "Pottery from the Nile Valley before the Arab Conquest." Cambridge, 1981, pp. 95-96, cat. nos. 188-189; also Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number x.197 and the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession number 1999.233.

Provenance: Collection of Dr. W. Benson Harer, Los Angeles, California, USA, purchased between 1974 and 1975 at Superior Galleries, Los Angeles, California, USA; Exhibited at the Minneapolis Museum of Art with the Lily Place collection, 1925 to 1958, ref. no. 25.345; at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 1986 to 1991; in the University of Arizona Museum of Art, October 1993 to December 1993; and in in the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA), California State University, San Bernardino from 1996 to 2023, reference number EL01.174.1996; Published in "Temple, Tomb, and Dwelling", fig. 74c

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#178984

Chips to both handles along same side of vessel, with softening to some finer details, minor pitting, and a stable hairline fissure across bottom, otherwise in excellent condition. Nice preservation to Saint Menas motif on both sides. Lily Place reference number handwritten in red ink along bottom.