Rome, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. So lovely for its fabulous form, light green hues, translucency, not to mention the areas of rainbow iridescence. This vessel presents a near-spherical body with a dimpled bottom, its globular form leading to a slender neck that resolves to an elegantly flared rim. A lovely example of free-blown ancient glass! Size: 3.5" in diameter x 4.5" H (8.9 cm x 11.4 cm)

For similar examples, see Susan Auth, "Ancient Glass at the Newark Museum" (New Jersey, 1976) and S. B. Matheson, "Ancient Glass in the Yale University Art Gallery" (Yale, 1980).

Glass blowing was invented in the Roman Empire around the end of the first century CE and revolutionized Roman household life. Suddenly glass was easy to produce, and Roman households rapidly replaced pottery with delicate, translucent glass. A vessel such as this one may have been used to hold olive oil, which the Romans used for everything -- cooking, lighting lamps, and personal hygiene. It has survived the intervening centuries nearly intact and is a beautiful reminder of the Roman past.



Provenance: Ex- Private NYC collection

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#120151

Tiny near invisible nicks to rim. Earthy encrustation. Nice areas of rainbow iridescence.