Ancient Art

Ancient art refers to art produced by advanced cultures of ancient societies with some form of writing, such as China, India, the Mediterranean, the Levant, Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, Roman North Africa, and Mesoamerican cultures before the arrival of Europeans. Ancient is defined in the VA Collection as items made before1200 CE and includes Chinese Han (206 BCE-220 CE) ceramics and metalwork; Mediterranean terracotta from the Holy Land Biblical Period (934-586 BCE), Magna Graecia (8-5th Century BCE) pottery, Roman Empire North Africa (27 BCE-476 CE) pottery, and a Texas Clovis Culture Paleolithic Spear (15,000-10,000 BCE.).

Showing 1–12 of 22 results

  • Ancient Terracotta Oenochoe (Wine Jug), Roman North Africa (3197A-UOM) $275

    $275.00
    H: 4.5”  W: 3”  D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. !

    Small wine jugs were made in the Roman North Africa territory called Africa Proconsulares and exported throughout the empire. Made and decorated with ribbing and a single handle on a potters wheel it was fired in a kiln.  Simple and unadorned functional objects called coarse wears were made everyday use and to make offerings to deities using inexpensive long-lasting materials.  Very good example of pouring vessels from ancient history throughout the Roman Empire.

  • Ancient Daunian Earthenware Cup, Magna Graecia, Italy (1789LME) $595

    $595.00
    H: 3”  W: 4.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Daunian style earthenware cup was produced in the ancient northern Italian region Apulia, then known as Magna Graecia, from the 6th or 5th centuries B.C.E.. It was covered with beige slip and painted with red, brown and black earth colors in a variety of geometric patterns. Its curved rim and high handle was ideal for pouring liquids like water and wine.  The handle may have been repaired as there is an uneven slip underneath it or may have been attached it was painted but it is otherwise in very good condition.

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    Ancient Earthenware Carinated Flagon, Roman North Africa (3191BLB) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $775.00.Current price is: $595.00.
    H: 4.5”  W: 3”  D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Roman ceramic flagon is a uniquely shaped vessel used to store and pour potable liquids. A crème slip carinated jug with a high profile and a trefoil pouring spout, it has a strap handle attached from the carinated edge to just below the rim for easy handling. Roman coarse wars like this were use for liquids and to make offerings to household deities.

  • Ancient Earthenware Jarlet, Roman North Africa (3195A-DAE) $225

    $225.00
    H: 4.625”  Dia: 3.625″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Earthenware pottery jarlets like this were made in ceramics center in Roman North Africa territories called Africa Proconsularis. They were made to hold liquids such as oils, perfumes, ointments or cosmetics . This small vessel was made with a potter’s wheel with decorated grooved ribbing etched on the surface and fired in a kiln. It is a good example of a ceramic pouring vessel from ancient history used throughout the Roman Empire. This uncleaned authentic vessel is  in very good condition with no repairs, and aged patina, surface mineral deposits, hairline cracks, minor chips and discoloration.

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    Ancient Earthenware Shallow Bowl, Roman North Africa (3184PKM) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $525.00.Current price is: $425.00.
    H: 2.875” Dia: 7.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Produced locally in Roman North Africa ceramic centers in Africa Proconsularis after the Roman Empire expanded, pottery like this was shipped throughout the Empire. Functional wares called coarse wares were covered with slip to make them less porous and sometimes as here red paint added for decoration.This finely shaped red clay earthenware is less typical than other bowls with thinner, ,taller and slightly curved walls.

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    Ancient Glazed Ceramic Han Wing Cup, China (1009BOH) $450

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 1.5”  W: 5.125”  D: 3.875” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Han dynasty green glazed winged cup is a mingqi burial object placed in a tomb to comfort and satisfy the deceased. Winged cups were popular during the Han Dynasty when they were made from molded earthenware covered with a thick green leaded glaze which sometimes , as here, caused a chemical reaction between the lead and the tomb’s humidity resulting in an iridescent silver-green color.

  • Ancient Han Dynasty Pottery Pig, China (2029BKE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 2.5”  W: 4.5”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This glazed pig mingqi was one of many items made for a tomb to placate the spirit of the deceased and assure the soul’s access to the things enjoyed when alive. This animal mingqi confirms the importance of pigs as a food source and of raising livestock in Han China. An alert animal whose stocky body is typical, it’s dark lead green glaze and damp tomb created a chemical reaction over centuries making it a lustrous, iridescent green impossible to copy that is highly valued in China and by collectors. In very good condition, it has expected glaze losses, minor abrasions and cracks due to its age and long tomb burial.

  • Ancient Harpocrates Figurine, Roman Empire, Alexandria (1844BHK) $395

    $395.00
    Ht: 6.5”  W: 2.625”  D: 1.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This ancient figurine is Harpocrates the Greek god of silence and secrets holding a jar made for a home shrine.  He probably represents a royal and temple cult, as he wears a double crown symbolizing both Upper and Lower Egypt and his royal emblem signifies his association with the reigning Egyptian king, who was considered a manifestation of the Egyptian god Horus. Missing part of his right side when excavated, and no with no repairs this is a true slice of history. It pairs well with #1845 Ancient Pottery Figurine of Child Nurturer Goddess.

     

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    Ancient Holy Land Biblical Period Wine Jug, Judea (3241BHK) $695

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $595.00.
    H: 8.5”  Dia: 5.5” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This Biblical Period earthenware wine jug is rare because of its difficult chances of survival over such a long time period. Made in the Judea Holy Land, it has a tall globular body and a downward sloped shoulder that join together in a distinctive carinated edge running around its top.

  • Ancient Inca Axe Head, South America,Peru (1866BAL) $525

    $525.00
    H: 4.25”  W: 3.75  D: 0.75” | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Axes  were classic weapons of the Inca Empire centered in Cuzco, Peru from the 13th through 15th century. Artisans in the Mesoamerican Incan civilization were highly skilled in metalwork and made weapons, tools and adornments with bronze/copper alloys. This t-shaped copper bronze alloy axe was secured to a wooden handle making it an effective chopping and digging tool as well as a fine weapon. It has a nice patina and is very worn on one side attesting to its age and use with restorations or repairs.

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    Ancient Large Stamped Red Platter, Roman North Africa (3185BCA) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $485.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 2.25”  Dia: 14.5″ |

    Made in Africa Proconsularis, the Roman North Africa pottery center and distributed throughout the Roman Empire).

    Created in the Roman North Africa territory named Africa Proconsularis,  platters like this were distributed throughout the Roman Empire.  it is a remarkable piece known as ARS (African Red Slip) that is decorated with circular rings with perfect ridges made using a pottery wheel. This ancient serving plate is remarkable for its survival, size, stamped designs and graceful simplicity. Found in two pieces, the breaks were clean and glued together. Platters of this size are rare and are usually in multiple broken pieces with significant losses.

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    Ancient Lekanis Dish, Magna Graecia (3247BHK) $575

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $525.00.
    H: 3.625”  Dia: 3.5″ | FREE SHIPPING within contiNental U.S.!

    This diminutive but very elegant piece is a lekanis, a lid-covered container for cosmetics.  Originating in Greece embraced by artisans from Apulia in Magna Graecia in Southern Italy who adapted this form in their Xenon wares in the 6th century B.C.E. This terracotta lidded bowl is covered with pale matte salmon decorations over a black glazed body highlighted with decorative meandering bands. Fathers in ancient times filled these bowls with small items of adornment and gave them to their daughters as a wedding gift, which would be a delightful tradition to uphold today.

     

    container for cosmetics in the 6th century BCE.and a matte pale orange-red or salmon decoration over a black glazed terracotta body fired from red clay. It was used as a special gift for a bride from fathers with small adornment items placed inside.

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