Lot 35A
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A delicate Roman glass unguentarium, free-blown from translucent cobalt-blue glass with a tall, tapering body that swells at the midsection before narrowing again to a fine rounded tip. The elongated cylindrical neck rises to a flared rim, once used to seal in precious contents with wax or cloth. The surface shimmers with patches of iridescence and mineral accretions from centuries of burial, lending it a jewel-like quality. Unguentaria such as this were everyday luxury items in the Roman world, serving as containers for oils, perfumes, and cosmetics. Their elegant, slender form made them easy to hold and pour, while the small rim minimized evaporation of costly contents. Blue glass was especially prized, evoking lapis lazuli, and its vibrant hue would have made the vessel as alluring as the perfumes it once carried. Size: 0.5" W x 8.6" H (1.3 cm x 21.8 cm); 9.1" H (23.1 cm) on included custom stand.
These vessels are frequently found in both domestic and funerary contexts, where they accompanied the dead as tokens of beauty, refinement, and eternal sustenance. The present example, with its unusually elongated profile and saturated color, speaks to the skill of Roman glassblowers who combined functionality with graceful design.
Provenance: private Louisville, Colorado, USA collection, from the Collection of a Media Executive; Parts purchased from Fortuna Fine Arts, 1999
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#197028
- Condition: Small stable hairline fissure near rim. Otherwise, intact and excellent with weathering film to interior and lovely iridescence throughout.
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