Rome, Imperial Period, ca. late 3rd to 4th century CE. A free-blown glass jar of golden yellow hues, its form presenting a broad-shouldered ovoid body with a concave bottom, a short neck and funnel mouth with out-folded rib. Two undulated green glass trail handles join the shoulders with the rim of the vessel. The golden hues shimmer with marvelous areas of rainbow iridescence. Size: 3.75" W handlespan x 3.625" H (9.5 cm x 9.2 cm)

Widespread from the early Imperial period, small glass vessels like this example were mass-produced using the technique of glassblowing; however, they nevertheless show significant variations in shape and color of the glass, making each piece virtually unique. Glassblowing was invented towards the middle of the 1st century BCE in the Syrian-Palestinian region, and eventually spread throughout the Mediterranean basin. This amazing technical innovation transformed the glass industry, because it enabled glassmakers to produce tableware and storage containers in a wider variety - more readily and quickly than ever before. Consequently, glass overtook clay as a raw material for the manufacture of vessels in virtually all arenas of daily life from the late Hellenistic period onward.

For a similar form, see figure 174, page 94 of Fortuna Fine Arts catalogue entitled, "Solid Liquid" (1999).

Provenance: ex-private East Coast, USA collection

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#120867

Expected earthen encrustation as shown. Overall excellent.