Ancient Roman Brown Glass Jar

£ 500.00

A fine translucent brown Roman glass jar with dark iridescence. The vessel features a rounded body narrowing to a short cylindrical neck which opens out to form a rounded flange with a funnel-shaped mouth. The jar sits on a slightly concave base.

Date: Circa 1st – 3rd Century AD
Condition: Good condition, with earthly encrustation and mother of pearl iridescence to the surface.

SOLD

SKU: MG-09 Category: Tags: , ,

Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines because it was not porous. 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.

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

Weight 83 g
Dimensions W 7 x H 9.2 cm
Culture

Region

Glass

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