Unguentarium or Balsamaire in terra cotta, rounded body, lon - Lot 6

Unguentarium or Balsamaire in terra cotta, rounded body, long flared tubular neck. Condition known as "excavation deposit". Roman art, 1st - 3rd century A.D. Very good condition. Height: 11 cm. Provenance : former private collection in Paris. Notes: This type of spindle-shaped bottle is emblematic of Early Roman utilitarian production. Specifically designed to preserve ointments, perfumed oils and balms, it was a key accessory in Roman healing rituals and funerary practices. Its shape is dictated by its function: the narrow, tubular neck limits the evaporation of expensive perfumes and ensures precise dosage, while the bulging belly maximizes useful capacity. This type of bottle was commonly placed in tombs as an offering. It symbolized the continuity of body care beyond death, and still marks the importance accorded to hygiene and aesthetics in imperial civilization. A close copy is preserved in the Louvre under inventory number CA 2838.