Ancient Roman Glass Unguentarium

Early Roman Period 37 BCE – 70 CE, 5.4” Inches High and 3” Inches Wide

 Intact in excellent condition with a very nice patina

This is a beautiful light green Roman glass unguentarium. It features a transparent green hue, a low, bulbous body, a long tubular neck that tapers slightly, a flattened base, and a rounded rim. There are areas of iridescence, along with a multi-colored crust in some places and light encrustation.

This flask was used to store costly oils and unguents from around the Roman Empire. The contents could be poured slowly in tiny drops, and the small opening was easily stoppered.

In the middle of the 1st century BC, just as Rome was emerging as the Mediterranean’s dominant political, military, and economic power, a technique pioneered by Syrian craftsmen arrived: glassblowing. It revolutionized the industry overnight, allowing the Romans to produce glass much more quickly, at a fraction of the cost and on a vast scale.