Roman Basket Handled Jar

£ 1,500.00

This Roman basket-handled jar has a globular body designed with a vertical rib pattern. The body flares gently into straight edge shoulders, forming a horizontal ledge. A wide, conical neck is decorated with an applied handle, giving the flask its basket shape. This is a rare shape for a jar, as basket handles are often seen on cosmetic tubes but rarely on other shapes.

Date: 4th Century AD
Condition: Very fine condition.

SOLD

SKU: AH-415 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 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.

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

Weight 55.7 g
Dimensions H 10.5 cm
Culture

Glass

Region