Ancient Greece, Hellenistic period, ca. 3rd century BCE. A stunning miniature amphora delicately hand-carved from creamy beige alabaster with natural bands in hues of honey and caramel. The ancient vessel boasts an elegant form featuring a circular, gently flared rim atop a lengthy, cylindrical neck, a sloped shoulder, and a globular body that tapers to a petite finial at its base. A pair of slender handles joins the neck and to the shoulder. Vessels like this were commissioned by aristocratic Greek women in order to use as storage containers for sweet and floral scented oils or perfumes. Size: 1.25" W x 2.625" H (3.2 cm x 6.7 cm); 3" H (7.6 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: ex Christie's, New York, USA, December 12, 2007, lot 142; Private European Collection
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#162422
Condition
Repairs to neck and handles with breaklines barely discernable. Expected surface wear commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice earthen deposits on interior.