Roman, Late Imperial period, likely Sidonian culture, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A remarkable and rare flask formed from multi-colored caned glass to present a janiform head of a youthful, beardless male with flowing hair - perhaps intended as a young Bacchus - Greek Dionysus - the Roman god of wine, winemaking, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstasy. Each chubby-cheeked visage is surmounted by a tufted coiffure from which the slender neck and flared rim of the vessel rises. The interior of the neck is slightly constricted allowing one to control the flow of liquid being dispensed. Vessels like this example were intended to hold precious liquids such as perfumes or scented oils for cosmetic purposes. The restrained distribution of the oil enables a Roman man or woman to only release one or two drops at a time without accidentally dousing themselves in perfume. Note the rich layers of turquoise, violet, and rainbow iridescence that beautifully complement the already impressive piece! Size: 1.3" L x 1.4" W x 2.6" H (3.3 cm x 3.6 cm x 6.6 cm)

Sidon was a center of art glass production in ancient times. Here are Pliny's words as he described his voyage to Sidon, "From this point on we must go back to the coast and to Phoenicia. There was formerly a town called Crocodilian, and there still is a river of that name...Then comes Cape Carmel...Next are Getta, Geba, and the river Pacida or Belus...Close to this river is Ptolemais...Next Tyre, once an island separated from the mainland by a very deep sea-channel 700 yards wide, but now joined to it by the works constructed by Alexander when besieging the place...but the entire renown of Tyre now consists in a shell-fish and a purple dye!...Next are Zarephath and the city of birds (Ornithon oppidum), and Sidon, the mother-city of Thebes in Boeotia where glass is made." (Pliny, Natural History V.75-76, 77-79 AD).

Comparable examples can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (17.194.244, 54.101.2, and 74.51.318), the Cleveland Museum of Art (1923.945), the Brooklyn Museum (15.75 and 19.11), and the Corning Museum of Glass (50.1.15). A similar glass Janus-head flask was sold by Christie's London for 4,700 British pounds (equivalent to about $6,766.59) on April 25th, 2001 as lot 574 in Live Auction 9088 "Fine Antiquities."

Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA; ex-Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, 2012; ex-private English collection, acquired before 1975

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#185010

Professionally repaired with some small chips along visible break line. Nicks and surface wear as shown, but form and detail are still clear. Weathering film to surface and truly stunning iridescence throughout!