Fragmentary Vase (Balsamarium) in the Form of the Head of a Man

Broken and reconsolidated, this fragmentary head was once part of a vessel type known as a balsamarium. Such vessels are thought to have been containers for scented oils, commonly used in ancient bathing practices. Balsamaria were produced in both terracotta and copper alloys, often in the form of a bust. Several others in the Menil Collection, mostly in terracotta, depict Black Africans. Some scholars, such as Jennifer Gates-Foster, have noted that these objects may have been a visual indication of luxury or prestige.  

The dates of bronze balsamaria are not very secure, but the parallels of this piece stylistically date it to early in the Hellenistic period (late 3rd to early 2nd centuries BCE). The dull or waxy surface of this object may indicate it came from Egypt, but its archaeological provenience (findspot) is unknown. It entered the Menil Collection from the collection of Nicolas Landau, an art dealer and collector based in Paris.