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Siren-Shaped Perfume Flask
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
A half-bird, half-woman creature, a siren lured sailors to death by the sweetness of her song. The most famous sirens appear in the ancient epic the <em>Odyssey</em>. Shaped like a siren, this vessel likely held valuable perfumed oil. Its small mouth limited spillage, and a string attached to the loops on its back allowed it to hand or hold a stopper.
| Artist / Maker | Greece |
|---|---|
| Date | 600–480 BCE |
| Culture / Origin | Greece |
| Medium | terracotta |
| Dimensions | Overall: 12.7 x 18.1 x 6.7 cm (5 x 7 1/8 x 2 5/8 in.) |
| Department | Greek and Roman Art |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
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