Miniature amber amphora (jar)
For the Romans, amber was a costly and therefore luxurious material. It seems that it was especially prized by women, who collected rings, trinkets, and small perfume bottles made of amber. Many such objects were produced at Aquileia in Northern Italy, which may be where this miniature amphora was carved. The amber trade was stimulated by the expedition of a Roman eques (knight) to the Baltic coast in the reign of the Emperor Nero (A.D. 54–68).
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