Lot 532 email save

Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, 1st Century AD. A d

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Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, 1st Century AD. A dark blue mold blown hexagonal flask of the "vessel-mask" type, depicting alternating vessels and masks on each if its six panels. Each image is framed within an architectural structure resembling an aedicula, the arches filled with egg-shaped objects, while below the ground line, encircling the entire flask, there is a continuous garland with clusters of fruit in each swag. The vessels depicted include 2 amphoras and a krater. The masks depicted are Dionysian in character and resemble satyrs or youths. On the bottom of the flask there is a concentric circle motif. The flask has a tubular neck with a flared lip and folded-in rim. The flask was formed by blowing the glass into a two-part mold. The designs are a bit weak, but the piece is intact with some crème colored encrustation. H: 2 ¾". See Fortuna Arts, Glasses of Antiquity, 2002, nos. 25-27 for this description. Also See Toledo 1995, pp. 113ff and especially pp. It is suggested that they may have been ritual vessels related to the cult of Sidonian Astarte. This type of flask was probably produced near the ancient city of Sidon in Phoenicia (Toledo 1995).

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