Ancient objects include all items of material culture from the dawn of humanity up to the fall of the Roman Empire. They are divided into Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other civilizations.
Their value is self-evident: this is a closed collection – no new objects are being created, while humanity continues to grow. These works form the very foundations of Western civilization. They embody timeless beauty, and their value has been steadily increasing since the Renaissance.
Balsamarium / Scatozza 49 Type Toilet Flask, glass, Roman Empire, 1st/2nd century AD.
A complete, ancient Roman unguentarium (balsamarium), this piece is a classic example of a luxurious toilet vessel with rare and highly specialized morphology. In the rigorous archaeological classification of glass from the Vesuvius region, this vessel represents the Scatozza 49 form (the Italian equivalent of the De Tommaso 14 type). In Clasina Isings' classic, pan-European classification, this object is positioned as an early transitional variant of the Isings 82 form (displaying evolutionary characteristics between Isings 28 and 65 types), making it exceptionally interesting from the perspective of Roman glass craftsmanship development. The artifact dates from the early Imperial period and exhibits workshop characteristics typical of manufactories operating in Italy and the western provinces of the empire during the second half of the 1st and early 2nd century AD (Flavian period).
Height: 14.2 cm Rim diameter: 4.8 cm Maximum body diameter: 7.8 cm Weight: 54.0 g (wall thickness approx. 1 mm)
Gallo-Roman male portrait head, marble, Roman Empire, Province of Gaul (area of modern France), 1st-3rd century after Chr.
Galo-rzymska głowa portretowa mężczyzny, marmur, Cesarstwo Rzymskie, Prowincja Galia (teren współczesnej Francji), II-III w. po Chr.
Glass vessel (ollula) of Isings 68 type, glass, Roman Empire, 1st-3rd century AD.
This bulbous glass flacon, dating from the Imperial period, 1st-3rd century AD, was crafted using the free-blowing technique from soda-lime glass. Its exceptionally low weight relative to its size indicates very thin walls (measuring approximately 1 millimeter), demonstrating the ancient artisan's supreme skill. Morphologically, the flacon represents a classic Roman form known as ollula (miniature jar), classified in scientific literature as type Isings 68. It features excellent proportions and a bulbous, almost perfectly spherical body with a slightly concave base. The body tapers sharply upwards, transitioning into a short, cylindrical neck, which is crowned by a wide, dish-shaped rim. The broad collar was precisely everted and folded under while hot, and its significant width facilitated the insertion of ancient medical or cosmetic spatulas.
Height: 9.6 cm Maximum body diameter: 9.1 cm Rim diameter (edge): 7.5 cm Weight: 68 g Estimated capacity: 200–250 ml
Sarcophagus mask, wood, Ancient Egypt, 1st century BC – AD 1st century
Standing Buddha, bronze, Thailand, 17th century
What are antiquities or antiquities in the context of early art and antiques?
The category “Antiquities” includes all objects, artifacts, and expressions of material culture from the beginnings of humanity up to the fall of the Roman Empire. In simple terms, everything that predates the Middle Ages belongs to this category. From the medieval period onward, a new division and classification of art begins.
Within Antiquities, we distinguish three main subcategories corresponding to the best-known civilizations of the Mediterranean basin:
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Ancient Egypt
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Ancient Greece
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Ancient Rome
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Other: all remaining objects that do not fall into the above three civilizations, such as a Bronze Age stone axe from Scandinavia or artifacts of the Aztec culture, are classified as “Other.”
Sybaris Gallery of Early Art offers authentic historical artifacts that bear witness to the richness of ancient civilizations.