Daunian pottery thymiaterion, Apulia, 3rd century B.C.

Daunian pottery thymiaterion, Apulia, 3rd century B.C.

Composed of a small cassolette mounted on a high stand. In this cassolette incense (thymiama) was burned.
The thymiaterion described here, was probably derived from a bronze model, and presents a cassolette in the form of a shallow cup. The hollow column serving as support is decorated on its entire height by superimposed friezes, presenting a small repertory of the motifs employed in 'ceramica listata'.The decoration extends also to the interior of the cassolette.

Note
Thymiaterion is the Greek word for incense-burner. It was used in the Mediterranean region since antiquitiy for spiritual and religious purposes and especially in religious ceremonies

Provenance
Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1980s, listed in an inventory dated 1991