Roman Aubergine Glass Flask

£ 600.00

A Roman flask in aubergine colour, with a bulbous body and short neck leading to a wide rim. Very beautiful iridescence covers most of the glass, with interior crust and some minor encrustations.

Date: 3rd Century AD
Condition: Very fine condition, complete and intact.

SOLD

SKU: AS-937 Category: Tags: ,

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 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. 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.

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 95.8 g
Dimensions H 10.3 cm
Culture

Glass

Region