Roman Glass Double Balsamarium

$530.44

A beautiful Roman double balsamarium in blue-green glass. The vessel has been formed as a pair of conjoined tubes, with slightly flared tops and thickened rims. Two long, curvy handles have been attached to the sides, though their use is more decorative than practical.

Date: 4th - 5th century AD
Provenance: Private Mayfair, London collection, SM.
Condition: Very fine, complete and intact, with areas of fine iridescence and silvery crust in places and minor earthy deposits.

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SKU: AS-3771 Category: Tags: ,

The balsamarium is a variant of the typical Roman glass unguentarium. Produced in large numbers, they were items of every day use for holding and storing perfumed oils, as well as other expensive liquids and powders. The small body and mouth allowed the user carefully to 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. Glass was often the preferred material for storing oils because it was not porous. These small glass bottles are found frequently at Hellenistic and Roman sites, especially in cemeteries, and the perfumes which filled them would have been gathered from all corners of the expansive Roman Empire.

The iridescence on ancient Roman glass was unintentional, and was caused by weathering on its surface. The extent to which a glass object weathers depends mainly on the burial conditions; however, the humidity, heat, and type of soil in which the glass was buried also all affect its preservation.

Weight 83.2 g
Glass

Region

Culture

Reference: For similar example see item 487; Ancient Glass at the Newark Museum; Susan H. Auth

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