Lot 153A
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A fascinating group of four Roman artifacts, including two glass vessels and a spindle with whorl carved from animal bone, each reflecting daily life and craftsmanship in the ancient world. The first vessel is a delicate Roman glass flask, blown into an elongated piriform body tapering to a slender neck and everted rim. Its surface displays an iridescent sheen, the result of centuries of burial, lending a shimmering patina that enhances its translucent form. The second vessel is a compact Roman glass bottle with a flattened, rounded body and short cylindrical neck, its weathered surface showing earthen deposits and mineral encrustations that speak to its long antiquity. Both vessels likely served utilitarian functions in domestic or ritual contexts, holding precious oils, perfumes, or medicines. Size of largest (glass bottle): 2.3" W x 4.9" H (5.8 cm x 12.4 cm)
Accompanying the vessels is an ancient spindle and whorl crafted from animal bone. The spindle consists of a slender shaft with a spiral knob at the top, where thread would have been attached. The whorl, a circular disc weight, is fitted to provide momentum during spinning, ensuring even tension on fibers. Spindles such as this transformed natural fibers into strong, pliable threads for weaving textiles, an essential part of Roman household industry. Bone spindles and whorls are known from archaeological contexts across the Roman world, including Greece and Dura-Europos, underscoring their ubiquity and importance in daily life. Together, this assemblage highlights both the elegance of Roman glasswork and the practicality of textile production, offering a glimpse into domestic, economic, and artistic practices of the empire.
PROVENANCE: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-Material Culture, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, May 27, 2025, part of lot 248
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Item #
197206
- Condition: Good. Spindle is missing tip. Chipping to rim of larger bottle and to edge of spindle whorl. Each glass vessel has a stable hairline fissure to side. Heavy weathering and pitting to spindle whorl. Flask is intact and both glass pieces have nice iridescence.
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