Byzantine Glass Hexagonal Pilgrim's Flask with Jewish Symbols

Culture: Byzantine Period: Ca. 600 AD Material: Glass Size: L: 70mm / W: 55mm ; 75g Condition: Good, see photos. Provenance: Private UK Ancient Art Collection formerly acquired on the UK, European, and USA Art Markets from pre-2000 Collections. Description: A beautiful green, mold-blown glass flask with a flat, hexagonal base with a pontil scar and a funnel-shaped neck. The exterior of a lower body is decorated on all sides with low relief motifs: a menorah, an arch supported on two columns, a lozenge with a circle, and a dot inside. Bottles of this type were produced as souvenirs for ancient Jewish and Christian pilgrims coming to Jerusalem. The presence of a menorah on this bottle shows that it was intended for a Jewish pilgrim. These flasks might have been used by pilgrims to carry oil or water from holy places. For a similar see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 1972. 118. 180. All Items sold by Pax Romana Auctions come with a professional Certificate of Authenticity.