Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines because it was not porous. The small neck and mouth allowed the user to carefully 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. Another technique used during the Roman period was mold-blown. A mold would have been created, usually from baked clay or from metal or wood, and the hot glass would be blown into it. The glass maker would remove the vessel out of the two piece mold and would keep working on it whilst the glass was still hot. This may have included adding any handles and forming the rim. It allowed for designs to been produced in relief as seen on the body of this vessel. These molds could be used multiple times until the decoration started to deteriorate in which a new mold would be created.
To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass and Collecting Roman Glass.
