Ancient Roman Pale Green Glass Sprinkler Flask

Object Description

An extremely fine Ancient Roman sprinkler flask blown from pale green glass with a decorated body. The seam mark down the side indicates that the body was blown into a two-part mould creating a complex pattern in relief. The rounded base is decorated with a cross-hatched circle. Framing the circle is a wide register of a petal-shaped pattern which rises up the lower section of the body. Across the centre is a horizontal band of diagonal lines. The upper shoulders of the flask are decorated with a more abstract curvilinear pattern. The short cylindrical neck ends with a wide, outsplayed, funnel-shaped mouth. The neck and rim must have been free-blown and added separately and therefore do not display a mould seam. The surface of the glass is covered with silver- and pink-toned iridescence.

Height of the flask without stand: 7.8cm

Date: 3rd–4th century AD

Object Condition

Very good condition. The flask is whole and intact. There is earthly encrustation to the surface and inside the vessel. A small yellow-coloured inclusion is visible on the band of diagonal lines. An air bubble can be seen to the right hand side of the inclusion. Supplied with a custom-made stand.

Object Details