Unknown Maker, Roman

In ancient Rome, gold was a valuable and highly sought after commodity. As it was prohibitively expensive to cast, craftsmen often produced gold objects by hammering thin sheets of the metal into the desired forms. This method lent itself particularly well to the construction of vessels, like this elaborate gold amphora. Although this vessel appears to be seamless, it is fashioned from at least three sheets of gold; the first comprises the base and the body up to the shoulder; the second, the shoulder to the neck; and the third, the lip. These pieces were hammered to the desired shape and then connected by a solder joint. The amphora was then embellished using several cold work techniques: small beads of gold (granulations) were adhered in a decorative v-shaped pattern; filigree, or thin gold wires twisted together, was applied to the upper portion of the body to mask the solder joints; and

a small hammer was used to create the embossed design, or repoussé work.