Roman Pale Blue Glass Flask

$246.28

A Roman flask made from pale blue glass. It features a large, bulbous body, a long, thin neck, and an exerted, folded rim. The bottle stands on a flat, if somewhat conical, base. Some flecks of iridescence can be seen on one side of the body.

Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD
Condition: Very fine, some encrustations and some beautiful iridescence on the surface.

SOLD

SKU: MO-29 Category: Tags: ,

Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines because it was not porous. The small body and mouth of the vessel also allowed the user to carefully pour and control the amount of liquid dispensed. These small glass bottles are found frequently at Hellenistic and Roman sites, especially in cemeteries, and the liquids which filled them would have been gathered from all corners of the expansive Roman Empire.

The iridescence on ancient Roman glass was unintentional, and was caused by weathering on its surface. The extent to which a glass object weathers depends mainly on the burial conditions; however, the humidity, heat, and type of soil in which the glass was buried also all affect its preservation.

Weight 114 g
Dimensions W 7 x H 12 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

You may also like…