A tall Roman unguentarium in very pale green glass. The flask is candlestick with a flattened rim, a tall neck, a bell-shaped body, and stands on a flat base which is indented towards the centre. The glass and crust with iridescent patches.
Eastern Mediterranean: Circa 3rd century AD.
Condition: slight stable damage to one side of the rim affecting mostly the underside; otherwise omplete and intact, with a few accretions.
Height 18.6 cms (7.3 ins).
Provenance: Ex P.C. collection UK, 1990 - 2010
For similar examples see items 99-105; Ancient Glass in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
At the height of its popularity in Rome, glass was present in nearly every aspect of daily life. It was a particularly favoured container for precious, valuable liquids, such as expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines which were produced from all corners of the Roman Empire.