Ancient Roman Ceramic Amphora

Roman Amphora (1st c. BC – 1st c. AD)

Recovered from a Roman Shipwreck at 22 m Depth – Agay / Anthéor (France), 1952
Original 1950s Museum-Style Wooden Mount with Period Plaque

Culture
Roman

Date
1st century BC – 1st century AD

Description
Large Roman transport amphora with elongated piriform body and rounded base, originally intended for the maritime transport of wine or olive oil along the main commercial routes of the early Roman Empire.

The surface displays authentic marine wear consistent with prolonged submersion: mineral deposits, abrasion, erosion and residual marine accretions, fully coherent with amphorae recovered from shallow-water shipwreck contexts.

The amphora was recovered in August 1952 at a depth of 22 metres near the Balise de la Chrétienne, in the coastal area of Agay–Anthéor (Gulf of Fréjus, southern France) — a zone well known for Roman-era wrecks and ancient coastal navigation.

The recovery took place during the pioneering phase of French underwater exploration, decades before modern protective legislation.
The object is preserved on its original 1950s museum-style wooden base, fitted with a period metal plaque reading:
“Amphore Romaine – Épave ramenée de 22 m de fond – Août 1952 – Wladimir Nesteroff – Agay-Anthéor – Balise de la Chrétienne.”

This historical mount is an integral part of the object’s identity and provenance.

Provenance
Recovered in 1952 and subsequently kept in a French private collection.
The plaque refers to Wladimir Nesteroff, a documented CNRS marine geologist active in the Mediterranean between the 1950s and 1970s, belonging to the first generation of scientific underwater researchers in France. His involvement provides a clear and credible historical context for the recovery.




Former French collection, pre-1970.

Condition
Shipwreck condition.
Typical wear and losses consistent with underwater recovery, including abrasion, erosion and mineral deposits.
The amphora presents a re-attached foot/base, with a visible structural consolidation at the lower section, particularly noticeable on the reverse.
No cosmetic reconstruction or surface reworking has been carried out; the intervention was intended solely to stabilise the vessel for display.

Original 1950s wooden base and metal plaque included and intact.

Dimensions
Height (amphora only, excluding base): 70 cm

Legal Provenance Statement
– Recovered in 1952 (pre-UNESCO Convention).
– Former French private collection, acquired before 1970.
– The seller guarantees lawful ownership and the right to sell.

Collector’s Note
Roman amphorae with documented mid-20th-century underwater recovery, preserved on their original historical museum mounts, bearing engraved period plaques and accompanied by contemporary photographic documentation, are exceptionally rare on the market.

This piece combines archaeological authenticity, early underwater research history and strong, verifiable provenance — a highly desirable acquisition for advanced collectors or institutional displays.