A Roman pale blue glass perfume bottle or unguentarium with an out-turned rim, relatively long neck and a small conical body. The bottle has a flattened base.
 
Roman eastern empire: Circa 2nd-3rd Century AD.
 
Condition: Complete and intact, with patches white and silver iridescence
Height 7.6 cms (3 ins).
 
Provenance: The R.K. collection of ancient glass, UK. purchased 2006 from a London dealership.
 
For similar use of indents, see item 387-388; Ancient Glass in the National Museums Scotland; C. S. Lightfoot.
 
Glass was produced in large quanities 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