Roman Blue Glass Jug with Flattened Handle

$3,475.21

An exquisite Ancient Roman pale blue jug featuring a polygonal body with diagonal ribbing, the original translucency is still visable. The vessel displays a flat base with a large body leading to curved shoulders and a narrow cylindrical neck with a flaring rim. A thick and flattened handle is attached from the rim of the glass to the shoulder and is also decorated with ribbing.

Date: Circa 2nd-4th century AD
Provenance: From an important German collection, Munich, previously with Numisart 1990s.
Condition: Excellent condition. Some earthly encrustation to the surface and inside the glass.

SOLD

SKU: LD-185 Category: Tag:

Glass became very popular across the Roman Empire, especially after the discovery of glassblowing in which production rates rapidly increase to match the level of demands. Glassblowing not only allowed for a wider range of styles and shapes to be produced but the translucency of the glass became more achievable. This method revolutionised glass production thus changing the everyday trends, people became more favourable of glass cups rather than pottery ones. Two different trade businesses were involved with the manufacturing of glass, glassmakers and glassworkers. The glassmakers would melt down glass and when cooled, it would be broken into chunks and shipped to glassworkers. Once receiving the glass, the glassworkers would mould it into the desired vessel/object. The function of these objects varied in everyday life, smaller bottles such as unguentarias would hold essential oils and perfumes while larger vessel, like this jug, would be filled with drinking liquids and placed on tables. Glass vessels were also used for storage, merchants would pack different food products and goods in them and ship them overseas.

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

Weight 264.2 g
Dimensions W 8.4 x H 21.9 cm
Culture

Region

Glass

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, Accession Number 17.194.214

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