Roman Green Glass Ribbed Footed Amphora

£ 1,350.00

An ancient Roman pale green glass ribbed footed amphora. The vessel is tall and thin, with vertical ribbing along the majority of its body. The amphora tapers into a thinner neck and then flares out again into a circular, everted rim. The vessel is two-handled, with the handles joining the vessel from rim to shoulder.

Date: Circa 3rd – 4th century AD
Provenance: Robert Cummings collection, Palm Beach, Florida, acquired mid 1960s to early 1970s, and thence by descent. Fine Pre-Columbian, Tribal Art & Classical Antiquities, Arte Primitivo, Howard S. Rose Gallery, New York, 8 December 2016, lot 478. The Nico F. Bijnsdorp Collection (NFB 347), acquired from the above sale. Antiquities, Bonhams, London, 6 July 2023, Lot 195.
Condition: Fine condition with minor cracks and repairs across the vessel. The glass is partially iridescent.

SOLD

SKU: RF-021 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 of the vessels 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. The new technique allowed craftsmen to use smaller amounts of glass for each vessel and obtain much thinner walls, enabling the creation of medicine, incense, and perfume containers in new forms.

To discover more on ancient glass, please see our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass.

Weight 81.2 g
Dimensions H 17.4 cm
Culture

Glass

Region

Reference: For similar: The Metropolitan Museum, New York, item X.21.189

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