Balsamarium (Incense Burner) in the Shape of a Bust of Bacchus

This balsamarium is one of the finest examples of a class of cast Roman bronze perfume containers, usually provided with either a swinging handle at the top, as was originally the case here, or with a hinged lid to prevent spilling. A variety of satyrs, maenads, and Africans also appear as subjects for this category of perfume containers. With its inlaid silver eyes, this bust of Dionysos presents an unusually attractive and light-hearted portrayal of the god of wine, inebriation and ecstasy. David Gordon Mitten