The Rubens Vase is a remarkable artifact dating back to late Antiquity or early Byzantine times. Carved from a single piece of agate, it takes the form of a vase and is named after its later owner, the renowned artist Peter Paul Rubens, who created a pen drawing of it in Flanders between 1619 and 1626. This drawing is now preserved in the Hermitage Museum.
The origins of the Rubens Vase are believed to trace back to the Byzantine Empire, potentially around 400 A.D., and it is thought to have been crafted in Constantinople. Its appearance in Europe, particularly in France, after the Fourth Crusade's sack of Constantinople suggests that it may have been obtained through looting.
Throughout its history, the Rubens Vase has passed through the collections of various notable individuals, including the Dukes of Anjou, Charles V, Peter Paul Rubens, and the Mughal emperor Jahangir, before eventually coming into the possession of Henry Walters.
The vase has an oval shape and measures 7 5/16 inches in height, 7 5/16 inches in width, and 4 3/4 inches in depth (18.6 x 18.5 x 12 cm).