Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines because it was not porous. The small neck and mouth allowed the user to carefully 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. Along with the unique shapes, different components were added to the hot glass to create a variety of colours. The green tint seen in this piece would have been created by adding copper.
To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass and Collecting Roman Glass.
