Bizantino Terracotta Mensa di San Menas. VI-VIII secolo d.C. 8,5 cm H.Es. Collezione Antonovich.

Canteen of Saint Menas

- two faces decorated -

Byzantine, 6th - 8th century AD.

Terracotta

8.5 cm H.

CONDITION: Intact.

PROVENANCE: Private collection, François Antonovich, Paris, France. Sold by judicial auction in 2022.

DOCUMENTS: Provided of a certificate of authenticity and export license by the Ministry of Culture.

DESCRIPTION:

The terracotta canteen, also known as “pilgrim flask” – which is characterized by a round shape with a narrow profile, by a little neck and usually with grips, two to four – has a very long history.
The origin of this utilitarian object could be recognized in prototypes of Eastern production. During the Mesopotamian age, travel flasks with the shape that will endure for over 2000 years can already be found.
During the Roman period, types well known from archaeological finds were produced, mainly made by Italic, Hispanic, and the numerous variants of African “terra sigillata”.
During the 4th century AD Christian pilgrimages became widespread and with them the pilgrim flasks linked to the sanctuaries, among which the devotional ones of the martyrs Mena and Tecla in Egypt particularly stand out.
Since then the flasks did also become “souvenirs” – or reliquaries – to be brought home from the pilgrimage.
After the first half of the 15th century the pilgrim’s flask became a quite common type of aristocratic tableware. Real works of art were made using this shape, mainly used for the exposition on the kitchen sideboard in aristocratic houses.

MUSEUM EXAMPLES:

For a neraly identical example in the Metropolitan Musuem of art NY:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/475416


Notes:

- The piece includes authenticity certificate.
- The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union) - If the piece is destined outside the European Union a substitution of the export permit should be requested, can take between 1-2 weeks maximum.
- The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.