Very rare Roman bronze Amor Balsamarium found at Baalbek
Price: on request
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Object number
AR3114
| Object: |
Balsamarium (perfume or incense vessel) shaped as Amor (Eros)
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| Material: |
Massive bronze
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| Date: |
2nd - 3rd century A.D. Roman Empire |
| Description: |
Amor is standing on his right leg on a base with four radiate legs, each ending wth a small globe. His left leg is slightly bent and brought far back, his stretched left arm parallel to the leg, the right arm which is now broken was probably extending to the front. The head is slightly tilted to the right and to the back, gently bent wings on the back (left wing broken). High detail level of facial expression and hair. Hollow inside, used as vessel for valuable liquids or incense, small lid on the top of the head as part of hair. Amor (Eros) was the companion of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, in the Roman iconography. This vessel was therefore most probably used by a rich Roman lady for perfume, valuable cosmetics or incense. Very rare example of a full-figure anthropomorphic Roman bronze balsamarum, from the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. |
| Size: |
Height 170 mm, width 79 mm, depth 80 mm
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| Condition: |
Very good condition. Figure preserved including base and lid, which makes it a true rarity. Surface with stable cracks and strong patina. Worked with a high level of detail. Right arm, fingers of left hand and left wing broken and missing, right wing with slight damages. Overall extraordinary preserved for an ancient bronze figure of this size.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired 2020 at a US auction house. Ex Joan Conway Crancer collection, St. Louis, Missouri. Acquired 1988 at Bruce and Ingrid McAlpine Ancient Art, Mayfair, London, for 8,500.- US Dollar. Found in Baalbek area (invoice and letter from McAlpine recording the finding area are preserved as copies). Joan Conway Crancer, daughter if the famous St. Louis painter Fred Conway, was a passionate art collector. She was actively involved with the Saint Louis Art Museum, where she served for many years as Museum Trustee and member of the Acquisition Committee, and remained Honorary Trustee for the rest of her life. Together with her husband, they endowed a gallery at the museum, named for Alice and Fred Conway, her parents. This figurine was also delivered to the museum (receipt of delivery is also preserved), but Ms. Crancer obviously decided to keep this rare piece of art for her personal collection. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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