PA-2872: (142 x 83 mm – 5 5/8 x 3 5/8 inches) A pleasingly formed and very graceful large bluish-green, blown-glass Roman flask. It has a tapered, conical 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, gold and magenta iridescence – excellent condition. Exceptional size and unusual shape – quite scarce!
c. 1st - 2nd century AD.
Provenance: Roman Middle East, from a museum (accession numbers on base);
Private New York City Collection, Sotheby's 1993.
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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