Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A translucent pale green glass unguentarium with a bell-shaped body on a concave base, a tall tubular neck that is pinched a bit at its lower end and resolves to a folded rim. The invention of glass blowing techniques occurred just as the Roman Empire was on the rise, making it possible for the glass industry to truly blossom among the ancient Romans. A wondrous form with gorgeous coloring and remarkable condition! Size: 2.75" in diameter x 7.125" H (7 cm x 18.1 cm)

Note Pliny's poetic homage to translucent hand-blown glass: "There is, furthermore, opaque white glass and others that reproduce the appearance of fluor-spar, blue sapphires or lapis lazuli, and, indeed, glass exists in any color . . . However, the most highly valued glass is colorless and transparent, as closely as possible resembling rock-crystal." (Pliny, Natural History XXXVI.198 from "Solid Liquid" catalogue, Fortuna Fine Arts, New York, 1999, p. 64.)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#131375

Some bubbles inherent to the process. Area of iridescence on the base. A slight weathering film, but still shows a nice degree of translucency.