PA-2777: Large Ancient Roman Glass Flask, (160 x 107 mm – 6 5/16 x 4 1/4 inches), c. 2nd – 3rd century AD.
A pleasingly formed and remarkably large bluish-green, blown-glass Roman flask. It has a slightly tapered, domed body with a slender neck and a flared lip with a rolled rim. Glass of this shape was used to store ointments or cosmetic oils. Beautiful light green glass and very fine silvery surface patina with some interior earthen deposits with areas of intense blue, green, silver and magenta iridescence – excellent condition. Exceptional size and unusual shape – quite scarce!
Provenance: Roman Middle East, formerly in the collection of Gunter Windfelder, Germany.
The survival of this fragile glass seems nearly miraculous. Occasionally examples where the glass has reacted to burial exhibit a shimmering iridescence that has long captivated the imagination of the most ardent collectors and artists.
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