Rome, ca. 100 to 300 CE. Adorable pair of ancient glass vessels jars made of blown glass. The larger of the two is green glass with a very obvious pinch mark at the neck/shoulder interface. It has pearlescent iridescence, particularly on the base. The smaller of the two is black glass with a fine white patina, especially around the neck. Black glass, while found throughout the Roman sphere of influence, is relatively rare and would have been made by adding a strong colorant such as iron, manganese, or cobalt. Size: The larger of the pair is 2-1/2"H x 1-1/2" diameter at its widest point, and 3/4" diameter at the rim (6.4 cm x 3.8 cm; 1.9 cm).

Glassmakers in the Levant during the early first century BCE invented the technique of blowing glass through a hollow tube to inflate it; this technology came to Rome with the annexation of that area in 64 BCE. Glass blowing allowed the mass production of glassware throughout the Roman area of influence and it rapidly replaced pottery in the household.

Provenance: Ex-private New York City collection; ex-private S. K. Heninger, Jr. collection, NC, acquired 1980's.

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#109043

Larger of the jars appears intact but has what may be minor hairline cracks radiating out from a very small chip. The smaller of the jars is intact. Both have a patina.