A Roman unguentarium in pale green glass. The flask has a funnelled rim, and a pear-shaped body standing on a very slightly rounded base.
 
Eastern Mediterranean: Circa 2nd-4th century AD.
 
Height 13.7 cms (5.4 ins).
Very Fine condition with good glass: Complete and intact, much of the surface crust with silvery iridescence and a few earthy deposits. A nice example.
 
For similar see item 410 Ancient Glass in the National Museums Scotland C. S. Lightfoot.
 
Glass was produced in large numbers in the later Roman Empire. It was used to produce items of everyday use, for keeping expensive unguents and cosmetic oils which would have been gathered from all corners of the expansive Roman Empire.
 
See our blog post on Roman glass