The Romans frequently utilised the functional and decorative capabilities of glass to produce a wide array of objects. Unguentarium, such as this example, were used as containers for ointments, powders, balms, and other expensive liquids such as 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.
To learn more about Roman glass, visit our relevant post: How It Was Made: Roman Glass.