Description:
A bronze hollow cast statuette depicting a young man, shown in a standing position. The figure is carrying a large wine-skin askos, using his hip to support his load. He is slightly leaning backwards, probably because of the weight he has to carry. He is wearing a collar knotted in the back, and once he was also wearing a necklace of separate material, which is partly preserved. His long, thick wavy hair is surmounted by a fragmentary headdress.
An askos is a bag or bottle used for storing, transporting and drinking wine or water. It was made of leathered animal skin, most commonly of goats or sheep. The skin was first cleaned, then tanned, coated with pitch extracted from pine trees, and bound into form, often with a nozzle for pouring and drinking.
Wineskins were in widespread use from ancient times. Archaeological evidence is not abundant, since leather or skin rarely survives unless preserved in dry conditions. More evidence is available from textual sources (Greek writers, such as Homer; the Bible; ostraca etc.), and from illustrations on Greek vases, coins, sarcophagi, and oil lamps (for an overview see Wills - Watts (2014), p. 124-125 and figs. 1-4). The use of animal skins brought more advantages (less fragile, lightweight, flexible and easier to transport etc.) than disadvantages (wine may take on flavours from skins, and skin containers may be pierced by sharp points and lose their contents), so wineskins continued in use at least until the mid-20th century (Wills - Watts, p. 127-131).
Bibliography:
Barbara Wills - Amanda Watts, "Why wineskins? The exploration of a relationship between wine and skin containers", in Susanna Harris - André J. Veldmeijer (eds.), Why Leather? The Material and Cultural Dimensions of Leather (Leiden, Sidestone Press, 2014), p. 123-134.
Dating:
Roman, circa 2nd-3rd century C.E.
Size:
Height 16.2 cm.
Exhibited:
Brooklyn Museum, New York, 1978-1987 (loan no. L78.17.49), as shown on the last two images.
Provenance:
Collection of Nasli (1902-1971) and Alice (1910-1993) Heeramaneck, New York; with Sotheby's, New York, 29 November 1989, lot 339; with Christie’s New York, 12 April 2022, lot 115.
Condition:
Intact but for his right leg which was broken and reattached; once wearing a necklace of separate material, part of which is preserved; skin fall over shoulders worn away in front; back of head missing. With overall surface wear, abrasions and some pitting. With an overall light to dark green patina.
Price:
€ 6,500
Stock number:
C1353