Unguentaria were amongst the most common objects of Roman blown glass: produced in large numbers, they were items of everyday use for keeping expensive unguents and cosmetic oils. By the 1st century AD, the technique of glass-blowing had revolutionised the art of glass-making. This glass bottle was formed from a combination of casting and blowing produced in the period before glass blowing popularity. Its method included cane and rods of pre-formed coloured glasses being arranged and fused together through reheating. The glass was then manipulated to create unique ribbon-mosaic glass. The surface of such glasses tends to be rougher due to the nature of the creation, creating entirely unique pieces.
To discover more about the types and uses of unguentaria, please visit our relevant blog post: Roman Glass: Unguentaria and Cosmetics.
