Limestone thymiaterion (incense burner)

Limestone thymiaterion (incense burner)

Description:

A seated sphinx supports a shallow bowl in which incense was burned within a sanctuary. Like all ancient stone sculpture, the work was brightly colored, and abundant traces of red, yellow, and black pigment are still visible.


WebPub GR 2012 Cesnola: 9 × 4 3/8 × 6 7/8 in., 2.5 lb. (22.9 × 11.1 × 17.5 cm, 1.1 kg)

Period:

Classical

Date:

499 - 450 BC

Collection:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Provenance:

From a tomb at Kythrea

References:

Cesnola, Luigi Palma di. 1885. A Descriptive Atlas of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriote Antiquities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Vol. 1. pl. CVI.692, Boston: James R. Osgood and Company.Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 1089, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Karageorghis, Vassos, Joan Mertens, and Marice E. Rose. 2000. Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. no. 355, pp. 223-24, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Hermary, Antoine and Joan R. Mertens. 2013. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art : Stone Sculpture. no. 379, p. 278, Online Publication, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession Number:

74.51.2814