Ancient Roman Dark Glass Perfume Bottle with Trailing

Object Description

A fine Roman perfume bottle blown from glass. The vessel features a globular body sat upon a flat, slightly flattened base. The shoulders taper in to a thin, long cylindrical neck leading to an outsplayed rounded rim. The bottle is decorated with a single trail of glass applied to neck and drawn downward in a spiral, ending on bottom. The glass was originally translucent but currently appears dark and opaque due to earthy encrustation. Intense silver and bright blue iridescence is visible in areas where the encrustations flaked off.

Date: Circa 1st – 2nd Century AD

Object History

Ex Mayfair, London, UK, gallery, 1990s-2000s. From an important collection of glass, the property of a London gentleman.

Object Condition

Very fine condition. The vessel is intact. There is a chip to the rim. Please note, the encrustation and iridescence are very delicate.

Object Details