The elegant grace of this unusual vase raises it to the realm of art. In antiquity, such a fine piece must have been used to serve guests, perhaps holding wine or water at table. When the servant Isaac met Rebecca returning from the well, she might have been carrying a vessel such as this one. It reminds us of mankind's age-old desire to surround himself with a beauty that outshines mere function. It is easy to imagine some ancient woman grasping this vase by its handles and lifting it to her head as she went, laughing with her friends, to collect water.