Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A thickly ribbed bowl in pale, aqua-colored glass. It is mold-made, cast in a shallow phiale-like form, with a concave base and twelve thick, radiating ribs around the base. They terminate abruptly at the smooth, very slightly rolled rim. A wonderful example, rare to find this nice! This style of glass is known as pillar-molded, referring to the production technique, where the shape of the bowl was determined by taking a flat sheet of pliable glass and placing it into a solid mold upside down; this glass was then worked so that it is slipped/sagged over the mold to create the ribs on the exterior. Bowls like this one were used as part of the Roman "cena" or dinner, probably for holding condiments like garum (fish sauce). Size: 4.55" W x 1.75" H (11.6 cm x 4.4 cm)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#134728

Light encrustation and glass is slightly cloudy (although still translucent). Light iridescent patina, especially on the underside. Piece intact and perfect - and without any of the occasional age cracks that these heavy glass bowls seem to accumulate.