The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Canteen or Balsamarium

50–250 CE

Roman

Bronze, cast
height: 17.8 cm (7 in.)
Gift of Barbara S. Robinson and Family 2023.105
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The goat heads on the shoulder of this vessel each have inlaid silver eyes.

Description

A utilitarian container, this nearly spherical cast bronze vessel survives in surprisingly good condition. Two goat heads on the shoulder, each with inlaid silver eyes, serve as decorative attachments, holding two hand-wrought linked chains – a shorter one to secure the stopper and a longer one for hanging or carrying the vessel. The round body of the vessel is nicely complemented by a decorative program of shallowly incised bands and concentric circles.
  • -1998
    Merrin Gallery, New York, NY, sold to Barbara Robinson
    1998-2023
    Mrs. Barbara Robinson, Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2023-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Canteen or Balsamarium|url=false|author=|year=50–250 CE|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.105