Ancient Roman Glass Lentoid Flask

£ 200.00

A beautiful ancient Roman pilgrim flask, finely blown in pale green glass. The vessel features a flat, spherical body, leading to a long cylindrical neck and flat rim. Delicate bubbles are suspended in the translucent glass from the blowing process. The neck is chipped and therefore displays an irregularly cut rim. Due to the shape of this pilgrim flask it does not stand unaided.

Date: Circa 2nd - 4th Century AD
Condition: Fine condition. Chipped neck. Some fine scratches and earthly encrustation to surface.

In stock

SKU: BL-21 Category: Tag:

Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines because it was not porous. The small body 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. Most likely they were used as personal scent bottles, carrying expensive perfumes.

To find out more about Ancient Roman glass please visit our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass.

Weight 10.0 g
Dimensions L 5.0 x W 2.9 x H 0.9 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

Reference: For similar: The Metropolitan Museum, New York, item 74.51.68

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