Perfume Bottle
Louis' Image
Name/Title
Perfume BottleEntry/Object ID
11NE-Mi29-167Description
The mouth is funneled with a tubular rim folded outwards. Two applied handles of different sizes are opposed, attaching to the rim and neck. The lower ends of the handles have "combed" patterns where the glass has been applied to the neck. The cylindrical neck widens toward the bottom into sloping shoulders. Large, shallow dimples run vertically beneath the shoulder. The slender body presents with a high belly and the base is rounded. The vessel is intact with iridescence, encrustation, and the number "105" in red on the base.Use
Perfume VesselContext
The narrow mouths of unguentaria are thought to be suited to holding liquids such as water, wine, or even more viscous substances like oil or honey. However, with scientific analysis it has been found that unguentaria also stored pigments and pastes for cosmetic or medicinal purposes. They were also used to hold balms or perfumes. Ancient textual sources also indicate that unguentaria were used to hold dangerous substances (magical or toxic) for ritual purposes. However, their main purpose was to hold perfumes in everyday use or 'holy' oils for funerary rituals. Although there had been a large number of cosmetic vessels found in the Syro-Palestine region, no reference perfectly matches this vessel.Made/Created
Date made
300 CE - 400 CETime Period
Late AntiqueEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Near Eastern - Syro-Palestine