Possessed of a delicate grace, this lovely little vessel perhaps held fine oil or balm during the Golden Age of Rome. When we hold it today we are aware of the touch of ancient hands: shaping it, twisting its handle, selling it in some bustling marketplace, pouring out its precious contents. In its presence, those ancient persons--otherwise forgotten--come briefly alive. We feel the energy of their lives and we become part of the unbroken chain of history.