Roman Glass Jug with Iridescence

£ 1,200.00

A finely blown Ancient Roman glass jug, featuring a flattened base, a globular body, cylindrical neck and wide rim. A single applied handle extends from the rim to the shoulder. The jug displays a fine applied trail decoration to the neck. Beautiful mother of pearl like iridescence covers the majority of the glass’ surface.

Date: Circa 4th century AD
Period: Fine, complete and intact. Some earthy encrustation and minor scratches to the surface.

SOLD

Product Code: RGS-40
Category: Tag:

Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines in antiquity because it was not porous. By the 1st century AD, the technique of glassblowing had revolutionised the art of glassmaking, allowing for the production vessels for a range of different purposes. Glass vessels are found frequently at Hellenistic and Roman sites, especially in cemeteries, and the liquids that filled them would have been gathered from all corners of the expansive Roman Empire. A large part of ancient glassworks was designed for tableware use, in particular for carrying and serving water and wine at banquets. Jugs, one of the most frequently used containers, were created in various shapes and sizes.

To learn more about Roman glass, visit our relevant post: How It Was Made: Roman Glass.

Dimensions H 7 cm
Glass

Blown Glass

Region

Southern Europe

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, accession number X.210.