"Rovasenda dove"
A Roman dove-shaped 'unguentaria' dated 1st century AD.
The object, approximately twenty centimeters long, is striking for its elegance and its function: it was intended to contain essences and balms. To use it, the tail had to be broken, as is done today with a single-dose vial.
This specimen, however, has never been opened: inside, it still retains half its contents, a clear liquid with a slight pinkish deposit. An absolute rarity, which makes the "Rovasenda dove" a sort of time capsule.
Courtesy: Museo di Antichità di Torino
