Roman Bottle

I’m putting this in the Ancients forum as it’s as old as most of the coins and the appreciation level is higher. These bottles are tough to get and they do get pricey.

This bottle is only 3” high and its bluish-green in color. Not sure what it was used for but it is amazing that it survived time. It’s so light it’s unbelievable and if it was ever dropped it would be in a million pieces. Well, not that many but you get the idea and not I’ve got a chill.

I soaked it in water and loosened most of the dirt so it somewhat cleaned. At least you can see the bottle now. I still need to clean it more but that can wait until another day.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Complete bottles are something special. Very cool that you have one for yourself.

 

Nice artifact. I think it is great to put this alongside with Roman coins.

 

This is my third bottle. I have some fragments that are large enough to be shaped into jewelry, maybe one day.

 

In the 1970's I had a similar bottle, a bit shorter. One day I accidentally knocked it off its foot-high stand and when it hit the table it exploded into dust -- just like a vampire staked by Buffy.

 

I have this one that's 4" tall.

 

And that why I had that chill. Sorry that happened to you.

 

1st - 2nd century unguentarium - glass and terracotta - likely held perfume.

 

I don’t have the terra cotta but I do have the glass one at the top. I was told more than likely a perfume bottle. Almost the same color as yours.

 

Those are all one of a kind bottles! Real beauties and so delicate; how could they survive 2000 years or more.

 

C.N., Congrats on a nice score ! Your bottle was probably made in Roman-Syria, 1st-2nd century AD, & probably held a scented oil. Bottles like yours with an everted lip were meant for pouring . I wouldn't clean it anymore, leave it as is.

 

How does something so fragile survive so many years intact?

 

IMO, I wouldn't clean it anymore. Components of the glass could have selectively leached out over time and caused weak areas. The romans were pretty good at making glass, but raw material variability could cause problems over time. I think it looks pretty good as is.

The Corning Museum of Glass has an extensive collection of ancient glass. They may be able to advise you of conservation techniques. I would occasionally spend my lunch hour wandering around the museum and the research staff were always helpful.

Most of their collection is cataloged. Here is something that has a similar appearance. You might want to compare the level of conservation on your piece to those in their collection.

https://www.cmog.org/artwork/jar-1?search=collection:57a2228df4d55907ad85073f8cccdbcb&page=14

Finally, I have no advanced knowledge, but I would suspect that counterfeits do exist. With some glass composition, glass blowing, and chemistry knowledge, I think it would be possible to make fakes that would fool a novice or intermediate collector (same as numismatic fakes). CMoG may be able to provide information on counterfeit identification. Worth asking.

 

I have no idea how they have managed to survive but this one was 90% covered in harder mud. I just soaked it and it came off. I’m thinking I’ll leave as is as I don’t want a perfectly clean bottle. After all, it’s not a Coke bottle. Lol

 

My father took the family to this museum when I was a kid. I found it very interesting then and would love to go back with my wife. Not sure she would appreciate it the way I do. This was very helpful as it’s the same description as mine. I know mine is genuine as the dealer I bought it from is very reputable. Thanks for the solid information.

 

I have three ancient Roman glass vases/bottles. I think the ones that survived did so for the same reasons that any other relatively fragile artifact survived -- largely from luck in the way they happened to be buried. Some ancient glass is actually rather thick, and in general I suspect it isn't necessarily any more fragile than a terracotta or other object made of pottery -- like, say, my Attic black-figured lekythoi, which appear at least as fragile to me. Overall, I suspect that the vast majority of ancient glass or pottery objects were smashed or broken even before they were buried, and only a tiny percentage has survived. When glass is broken, though, I suspect it's harder to put the pieces back together than for some other materials.

In chronological order, with the descriptions taken from a recent appraisal, based on the dealers' original descriptions

1. Ancient Rome, purple/blue glass vase with wide folded rim and piriform (pear-shaped) body; surface of glass has some areas of vivid violet and blue iridescence; 1st Century AD.. 12.4 cm H x 5.7 cm W. Purchased 1/28/2021 Helios Gallery Antiquities, UK. Ex. Estate sale from Collection of Eric Moussel (1952-2019), Nogent-sur-Marne, France, acquired in Paris, late 20th Century. [N.B. The vase looks purple and/or blue depending on the photo. In either case, it reminds me a little of the night sky.]











2. Roman clear glass bottle, ca. 100 AD, 4 ½” L. Purchased 12/14/2007, John Jencek, San Mateo, CA.



3. Roman, pale blue glass vessel w/squat body & broad neck, inside covered in silver-colored iridescence, ca. 5th Cent. AD. 65 mm H, 48 mm W (at widest point). Purchased 01/08/2018, Helios Gallery, Wiltshire, UK.





(The Helios Gallery almost always has nice ancient glass available.)

 

The deep blue Mediterranean.

 

Beautiful bottles everyone. I have a small collection of mostly 19th century glass, Roman is attractive but I have too many hobbies as it is. Sometime I will post an image of a 17th century tile that my wife owns.

 

Its like looking into the universe

 

@DonnaML - your glass bottle is just mesmerizing! really beautiful.