Roman Glass Sprinkler Flask

£ 565.00

A delicate Roman iridescent light blue glass sprinkler flask. The vessel features a flat base, globular body, a cylindrical neck with a slight constriction at its base, wide mouth and rolled rim. Inside the flask, within the neck, there is a folded diaphragm with a constricted opening; such hole would have allowed precious liquids, such as perfumed oil for beautification, to be used sparingly. Spiralling grooves at the base of the neck show what the molten glass what twisted during the production of the item and give it a pleasant allure. Beautiful iridescence covers the surface of the item, some earthly accretions to the inside and out.

Date: Circa 1st-2nd Century AD
Condition: Extremely fine, encrustations to the surface.

SOLD

SKU: CS-310 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.

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

Weight 139 g
Dimensions H 9.3 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

Reference: For a similar item, The British Museum, item number 1894,1101.7

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