Ancient Roman Green Glass Jar

£ 950.00

A fine Ancient Roman green glass jar. The vessel features a wide globular body, which narrows to a short cylindrical neck with a slightly flared mouth. The neck sits on the body at a slight angle. The body is decorated with a maroon two-spiral trail applied horizontally around its circumference, which leads to a blue and maroon zig-zag pattern around the lower sides of the body. The jar rests on a slightly concave base. Some iridescence is visible across the neck.

Date: Circa 3rd - 4th Century AD
Condition: Very fine condition.

SOLD

SKU: BL-38 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.

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

Weight 74.3 g
Dimensions L 8.6 x W 8.5 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

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