Rome, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A heavy redware transport amphora, clearly coil-made, with sturdy handles attached to the shoulder and neck and a rolled rim; the end terminates in a rounded point. Lacking its cork and pitch stopper, the original contents of this amphora are unknown -- based on the globular size and shape, it was most likely used to transport olive oil (smaller ones were for stewed fruit or salted fish, while larger ones were used for wine). Amphorae formed the basis of the Roman economy -- storage vessels for transporting goods throughout the Empire, with examples found from North Africa to Britain. The pointed base on this one is standard, and was intended for storage in Roman warehouses in soft ground and for transport on ships by placing it through a specially-designed rack and roping it through the handles to others. This vessel was found in the sea and bears evidence of that in the form of barnacles and other white deposits on its body; it came from North Africa, a major site of olive oil production (alongside Spain and France) in the Roman economy. This oil was used for cooking, lighting, and, in some cases, bathing - one estimate suggests that each Roman legion consumed 1370 amphorae of olive oil per year! Comes with custom stand. Size: 11.75" W x 21.8" H (29.8 cm x 55.4 cm)

Provenance: Ex-NYC collection, Ex German collection acquired in 1956

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#117768

Intact, with archaeological and sea deposits on its body.