Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE. Truly breathtaking - a cast and blown mosaic flask comprised of canes of semi-transparent cobalt blue, opaque white, and semi-transparent deep blue glass. The vessel presents a spherical body with a dimpled, concave bottom, a tall cylindrical neck, and splayed lip. Note how the mosaic canes were artfully marvered into the surface to create elegant swags of milky white ribbon-like patterns throughout the body and shoulders. Then the artisan inflated the form, thus amplifying this effect to add to the drama of the decorative program. Much like gold-band glass, such vessels created by using various canes of glass are called "color-band" or "marbled glass". A stunning example of ancient Roman glass! Size: 4.25" H (10.8 cm)

A very similar Roman blue marbled glass flask sold at Christie's London for GBP 12,500 (16,605 USD) - Sale 13850, Lot 212 - https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-roman-dark-blue-marbled-glass-flask-6009464-details.aspx

You can also see a very similar example in the beautiful "Solid Liquid" catalogue (figure 72, p. 53 - Fortuna Fine Arts Ltd., New York, 1999).

Another similar example is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art - https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/239780

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#133198

Some surface bubbles and very well done repair to section of the body wall/neck. Otherwise very nice and quite rare!