Two Ancient Roman Pale Green Glass Candlestick Unguentarium

Roman, Imperial period,. Two free-blown pale green glass unguentaria, each on a custom acrylic display stand. The larger is of the candlestick type, with a squat, bulbous body and a long, slightly tapering cylindrical neck ending in a wide rim. The smaller has a compact rounded body, a tall, narrow neck, and a flared mouth. Unguentaria were made to hold perfumed oils, cosmetics, and unguents, and their narrow necks allowed the contents to be dispensed in small amounts. Glassblowing was invented on the Syro-Palestinian coast in the 1st century BCE. It turned glass from a luxury into an everyday material, and small unguentaria were among the first forms to be mass-produced. The candlestick type, with its low body and tall neck, became common in the Eastern provinces during the 1st to 3rd centuries CE. Over that time the body tended to flatten and the neck to grow longer. Such bottles held scented oils used in bathing, grooming, and the care of the dead, and they turn up often among tomb goods. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 205197

Estimate:£299.13

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