Hi, all. Here is another miniature lead
amphora from
Caesarea Maritima, very similar to one
published by L. Y. Rahmani in 2003 (see reference, below). I have several others I will be posting.
Anyone with similar objects is welcome to add them, as well. The general belief seems to be that
these vessels were
cast in two pieces and soldered together, however, based on the lack of a seam
line on the interior of the open examples, I am starting to think they were
cast together in a
two-piece mold using a method known as "slush casting" in order to produce the hollow containers.
I am planning to attempt to reproduce one of these in the future. I will let you know how it goes!
Edit: I just found this very interesting link which illustrates the slush casting technique. It looks
like an open and shut case to me!:
http://pbsn3.pbworks.com/w/page/67224722/Pilgrims%20Ampullahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyCjlAUBd7MBCC LA4
Lead
Amphora1st-4th Century CE
Type A variant
Hollow
cast miniature lead vessel in the shape of an elongated
amphora with
a cylindrical or slightly funnel-shaped neck, an
everted rim, and small looped
handles, which are crushed. The almost straight shoulders, only slightly broader
than the neck, taper in a straight line to a pointed base. The body is in the
unusual form of an inverted four-sided pyramid. The decoration consists of
horizontal lines creating four registers with no surviving linear or geometric
elements. The top register, below the shoulder, bears traces of an
inscription,
possibly an O followed by an A, but nothing else is discernible. The two halves
are slightly misaligned, more noticeably along one seam than the other.
Pb 4.9 x 1.3 x 1.2cm 15.36gm.
cf. L. Y. Rahmani, "On Some
Roman to Early
Medieval Lead Miniature Amphorae"
Israel Museum Studies in Archaeology, Volume 2 - 2003, Fig. 13 (inscribed ΓOΛACIOY) .
Surface find
Caesarea Maritima, 1974
(click for larger pic)