Ancient Roman Pottery Urn - 40 cm
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€ 1
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 1,700 - € 2,000
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Urn made of pottery from Ancient Roman culture, dating to the 1st–3rd Century A.D., 400 mm high with a 280 mm diameter, in good condition and professionally restored, acquired in 2025 from a Dutch private collection with provenance from Germany, authenticity Original/official, includes Certificate of Authenticity and EU export license.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
ITEM: Urn
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 400 mm x 280 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition. Professionally restored
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, Ex Galerie Ugo Donati - Art Classique, Switzerland (1956)
In Roman antiquity, cinerary urns and funerary vessels played a central role in burial customs, particularly during the Republic and early Empire when cremation was the primary method of treating the dead. These vessels were designed to hold the cremated remains (ashes and bone fragments) of the deceased. Depending on the wealth and social standing of the individual, urns ranged from simple, unadorned terracotta pots to intricately carved marble chests, elaborate bronze containers, and delicate blown glass jars.
The craftsmanship of these vessels often reflected the artistic trends of their specific era. For the Roman elite, marble urns were frequently decorated with high-relief carvings depicting mythological scenes, garlands of fruit, or symbolic imagery like reversed torches and birds, which represented the soul's journey or the mourning of the living. Glass urns, which became highly popular in the first and second centuries AD due to advancements in glassblowing, offered a striking aesthetic choice; their translucent walls allowed the contents to be partially visible, often placed inside protective lead canister boxes for burial.
Once filled, these vessels were laid to rest in various funerary settings. Elite families placed their highly decorated urns in elaborate private tombs or shared underground vaults known as columbaria (meaning "dovecoats"), where rows of niches built into the walls held the vessels. For ordinary citizens or freedmen, simpler ceramic vessels were often buried directly in the ground within communal cemeteries, marking a final, sacred resting place that adhered strictly to Roman religious laws regarding the honoring of ancestors.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license
If you bid outside European Union and win the item, we must request a new export license to your country and the shipment will delay between 3 - 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Urn
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 400 mm x 280 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition. Professionally restored
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, Ex Galerie Ugo Donati - Art Classique, Switzerland (1956)
In Roman antiquity, cinerary urns and funerary vessels played a central role in burial customs, particularly during the Republic and early Empire when cremation was the primary method of treating the dead. These vessels were designed to hold the cremated remains (ashes and bone fragments) of the deceased. Depending on the wealth and social standing of the individual, urns ranged from simple, unadorned terracotta pots to intricately carved marble chests, elaborate bronze containers, and delicate blown glass jars.
The craftsmanship of these vessels often reflected the artistic trends of their specific era. For the Roman elite, marble urns were frequently decorated with high-relief carvings depicting mythological scenes, garlands of fruit, or symbolic imagery like reversed torches and birds, which represented the soul's journey or the mourning of the living. Glass urns, which became highly popular in the first and second centuries AD due to advancements in glassblowing, offered a striking aesthetic choice; their translucent walls allowed the contents to be partially visible, often placed inside protective lead canister boxes for burial.
Once filled, these vessels were laid to rest in various funerary settings. Elite families placed their highly decorated urns in elaborate private tombs or shared underground vaults known as columbaria (meaning "dovecoats"), where rows of niches built into the walls held the vessels. For ordinary citizens or freedmen, simpler ceramic vessels were often buried directly in the ground within communal cemeteries, marking a final, sacred resting place that adhered strictly to Roman religious laws regarding the honoring of ancestors.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and European Union export license
If you bid outside European Union and win the item, we must request a new export license to your country and the shipment will delay between 3 - 5 weeks.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
1st - 3rd Century A.D
Name of object
Urn
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Pottery
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Height
40 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1980
Width
28 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
