Lot 81
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful and well-proportioned cast-bronze balsamarium with a piriform body, a flat base, and a tapered neck with a pair of ornate handles joining neck to rim. The tops of each handle sport a perforated suspension loop through which a slender woven bronze chain has been strung, and each chain is linked to a larger loop hanging above. A petite lid fits neatly onto the small open mouth of the vessel and has its own chain linked to the lower suspension loop. An additional woven bronze chain suspends both vessel and lid from its own loop. All of the chains are original to the vessel, and the entire balsamarium is enveloped in a lustrous emerald green patina. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 9.25" H (23.5 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 are either more abstract or are void of any additional decorations, 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: ex-private Cypress, Texas, USA collection
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#132718
- Condition: One link connecting shoulder to chain is modern, otherwise all other chain links are ancient. Surface wear commensurate with age, minor nicks to lid, body, and base, with loosening to some chain links, otherwise excellent. Light earthen deposits as well as great green patina throughout.
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