Roman Glass Small Double Balsamarium

$1,232.12

A beautiful example of a Roman glass double balsamarium, made from a semi-translucent green glass. The body widens at the base and at the mouths, and is decorated with applied spiral trails in a silver-green colouring. The entirety of the piece is covered with a silver film that has the same effect on the eye as Mother of Pearl.

Date: 4th-5th century AD
Condition: Very good condition. Some earthenware in the interior.

In stock

SKU: MO-16 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.

To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog post: Collecting Roman Glass.

Weight 299.3 g
Dimensions W 1.5 x H 10.5 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

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