Roman, earlyImperial period, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. A dramatic blue glass bowl with an incredible patina. Standing on a pronounced foot, the bowl is deep, with a carinated, concave rim that terminates in a small roll. There is no pontil mark, so the piece was either mold blown or the thick patina is obscuring a small pontil mark. The patina is silvery grey with some golden overtones and shows iridescence when held to light. The glass shines through in places, revealing a deep, bright blue. This small bowl may have been used at the table for holding salt or some other condiment. Size: 2.7" W x 1.65" H (6.9 cm x 4.2 cm)

This type of bowl is known as a patella, probably a drinking cup, formed using a method known as mold-pressing.

See a very similar example at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum (http://risdmuseum.org/art_design/objects/197_patella_cup).

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121584

Intact with heavy patina as shown, including silvery/golden iridescence. Exterior glass surface has some pitting.