As in the modern day, glassware in antiquity was considered an art form, with the best pieces were valued higher than wares made from precious metals. Glass bottles, such as this interesting example, were used as containers for ointments, powders, balms, and other expensive toiletry liquids, especially perfumes: the small mouth of the bottle is ideal for slow, careful pouring, while glass was preferred for holding liquids, due to its non-porous, non-absorbent nature. 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. Thanks to the invention of glass blowing it became possible to create moulds in order to mass produce popular designs.
This particular example is covered in a beautiful, purple iridescence. This chemical reaction is a result of weathering and the natural alkaline properties of the glass. Where the piece was buried or submerged over time, the soluble salts in the glass are leached from the vessel by the slightly acidic water present in the soil. Along with heat and humidity, this leaching process creates layers, which can flake off the vessel, creating this lustrous and unique surface.
