Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautifully-proportioned, cast bronze balsamarium, a tapering, round vessel standing on a diminutive disc foot. Above the main body of the vessel, the long neck rises, bulging outward at its center. Two small arms at the midpoint on the bottle have attached chains; these connect to a larger loop with another chain, this one attached to a fitted lid, also present. The lid fits neatly onto the small open mouth of the vessel. Lightly incised lines are around the shoulder, neck bulge, and rolled out rim. Size: 2.5" W x 5" H (6.4 cm x 12.7 cm)

Balsamariums 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 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 balsamariums 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: private Orange County, California, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#130832

Intact, with a beautiful mottled dark green and grey surface. Lid and chain are both in nice condition and present.