In ancient times, Sidon was one of the oldest and richest Phoenician cities and was renowned for its metal and glass working techniques, even before the Roman conquest in 64 BC. The invention of glassblowing, which revolutionised the production of glass in the ancient world, developed in the eastern borders of the Roman Empire in the Levant, with many ancient scholars attributing its birthplace to Sidon. The glass vessels produced in the region display an exceptionally refined craftsmanship and were highly valued in antiquity.
Roman Sidonian Blue Glass ‘Bird Series’ Flask
£ 3,250.00
An ancient Roman, Sidonian opaque blue glass flask. The vessel displays a hexagonal shape with a rectangular panel adorning each of the six faces. Each panel features a bird, depicted perched or in flight. This flask belongs to a rare collection of Sidonian glassware which features such decoration, known as the ‘Bird Series’. The tops of the panels feature ogival arches, and gentle ridges lead from the corners towards a long, cylindrical neck. A small mouth with a folded, everted rim develops at the top. The bottom of the body is adorned with linear ridges and tapers steeply towards a flat, circular base. A beautiful, pale iridescence features to the base and across the body.
Provenance: From an important London collection of glass, 1990s.
Condition: This piece is intact with earthy encrustations, scratches and iridescence to the surface.
In stock
| Weight | 40.85 g |
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| Dimensions | W 3.5 x H 8.1 cm |
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