Amphora Display "Sparta"

”Sparta”
Wall-mounted display-cabinet.
Made of European oak, and birch.
The finish is several layers of clear Osmo-oil.
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I made this wall mounted display-cabinet in 2010, to house my Greek Amphora (ancient vine/oil vase).
It originates from the harbor of Athens (Pireous). My father got his hands on it,when he worked there as a sailor. I inherited it some years ago.

I used oak, since i thought it is/was common ship material. And used a very minimalistic design (spartan).
Hand-carved handle.

Don´t think Amphoras are that rare in Europe. Every time Discovery channel, or History channel is on, you see them scattered all over wrecks etc.
But to me this one is special. It baffles my mind, thinking that this clay piece was once handmade, by someone who had a life in ancient Greece. A person who had his own problems, dreams, and passions. But whom is now not even dust. That it might have been on the bottom observing when the Persian fleet attacked Greece. Or maybe used by someone famous like Alexander the great or Aristotle (not likely but you never know).

In Rome they threw Amphoras in a huge piles, outside their harbors. Since the clay-vases was so hard to clean, they where often used only once. So very many where thrown in one pile, that it later became a mountain (Monte Testaccio).

Happy Easter!

-- L-H Johnsen,Sweden