Roman Glass Flask with Applied Handles

$1,130.35

A pale green Roman glass flask featuring a rounded body with a wide, cylindrical neck. The neck leads to a large, pinched rim. Two trailed handles have been applied from mouth to body, in the same pale green glass. The base is flat, inverting slightly. Within the neck there is a folded diaphragm with a constricted opening, to allow for the careful pouring of liquids. This flask is known as a sprinkler flask

Date: Circa 2nd – 4th century AD
Condition: Very fine. Some areas of encrustation and iridescence.

In stock

SKU: AH-693 Category: Tag:

Glass production evolved during the Roman Empire with the introduction of glassblowing, which allowed for a great variety of different shapes and styles to be constructed. The technique allowed for easier manipulation of the glass into more intricate designs allowing the vessels to have an assortment of functions. Glassblowing also allowed for a quicker paced production, the hot glass would be blown into a mould and then removed whilst still hot so that the glass maker could still work on it. Different minerals were added to create a variety of colours; a yellow tint was created by adding lead and changing the oxygen levels.

This glass flask, known as a sprinkler flask, is constricted through the inside of the neck to help control the distribution of the liquid it contained. More expensive fluids, such as perfumes, medicines or oils would have been placed in sprinkler flasks so that their use was easily controlled.

To find out more about Ancient Roman glass please visit our relevant blog post: Ancient Roman Glass.

Weight 45 g
Dimensions W 6.4 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

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