Roman Glass Jar

$410.46

An Ancient Roman translucent glass bottle with dark iridescence. The body features a globular form with a very short neck opening to a very large mouth. The bowl-like mouth has a rolled rim rising a little and slightly curving inside. A pontil mark is seen at the base, which rises slightly inwards. The vessel walls are thin and presents some earthly encrustations.

Date: 4th Century AD
Condition: Fine condition with earthy encrustations on the surface.

In stock

SKU: AS-1808 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 allowed the user carefully to pour and control the amount of liquid dispensed. By the 1st century AD, the technique of glass-blowing had revolutionised the art of glass-making, allowing for the production of small medicine, incense, and perfume containers in new forms. 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.

To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog post: Collecting Roman Glass.

Weight 69.9 g
Dimensions W 7 x H 10.5 cm
Glass

Region

Culture

You may also like…