Ancient Roman Blue Glass Jug

An ancient Roman jug blown from translucent pale blue glass. The vessel features a bulbous body which sits upon a concave base. The shoulders lead to a stout cylindrical neck with a wide out-splayed rim that has been folded into a decorative trefoil shape. This design was used for better control over the distribution of liquids that it contained. The outside of the rim and the neck are decorated with a fine trailing. A single handle has been applied from the rim to the shoulder. Beautiful iridescence is visible to the surface. Large area of the vessel is covered with earthly encrustation.

The Romans loved glass for its practical as well as decorative uses. Glass bottles, such as this beautiful example, were used as containers for ointments, powders, balms, and other expensive liquids associated with the toilet, especially perfumes: the small mouth of the bottle is ideal for slow, careful pouring, while glass was preferred for holding liquids, due to its non-porous, non-absorbent nature. Glass vessels are found frequently at Hellenistic and Roman sites, especially in cemeteries, and the liquids that filled them would have been gathered from all corners of the expansive Roman Empire.

Measurements: circa W 8 cm x H 10 cm

Provenance: Ex private collection, SM, London, 1970-1999.