Collection record · Objects & craft
Askos
The collection record classifies this work as cosmetic objects. It is dated 200–1 BCE. Recorded culture or place: Greece, Ptolemaic Dynasty.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Askos
- Date
- 200–1 BCE
- Culture / origin
- Greece, Ptolemaic Dynasty
- Materials and technique
- agate and gold
- Dimensions
- Overall: 6.5 cm (2 9/16 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1964.92
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This miniature vessel was carved from a single piece of banded agate, polished to a shine, and embellished with a gold lid and gold details on the base. Inside the ring of gold at the base is a trio of gold papyrus stalks, a likely reference to Egypt. In shape, it resembles an ancient wineskin, or askos, though its small size suggests use for luxury perfumes or oils. A tiny crab, likely once inlaid with a precious material, has been carved behind the handle.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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