Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. This lovely glass flask boasts beautiful mosaic patterning with aubergine and white canes, to create a marbling effect. The vessel sits on a smooth base that widens to a flattened spherical body and tapers to a long tubular neck that flares to the mouth. Note how the mosaic canes were artfully marvered into the surface to create elegant swags of milky white ribbon-like patterns throughout the aubergine body, shoulders, neck, and rim. Then the artisan inflated the form, thus amplifying this effect to add to the drama of the decorative program. Size: 2" W x 3.25" H (5.1 cm x 8.3 cm)

This type of ancient glass - known as "marbled", "color-band", or "mosaic" glass - is created through a process of casting and blowing which allows the artist to weave strands of different-colored glass throughout the composition. Vessels like this example would have been used by the ancients to contain scented oils or other precious liquids.

Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, before 2010

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#157465

Old inventory label inside vessel. Rim and neck repaired from four pieces. Restoration to rim using age commensurate glass, of a similar color. Nicks and surface wear. Opaque with rich coloration.