Fine / Petite Roman Glass Head Flask

**First Time At Auction**

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. late 2nd to 3rd century CE. A striking flask of a petite size, mold-formed from semi-translucent glass of a deep orange-yellow hue. The vessel is defined by a flared base, a bulbous body with a tapered shoulder, a squat cylindrical neck, and a flared rim with an in-folded lip. The body of the vessel takes the form of a stylized youthful male head with puffy cheeks, a slender nose, full lips with an indented lower lip, and heavy-lidded ovoid eyes, all beneath an enormous curly coiffure. The molded form is very well realized and captures the image of this chubby youth - perhaps representing the youthful Dionysos, the god of wine, pleasure, and theatre. Size: 2.25" W x 3.125" H (5.7 cm x 7.9 cm)

For a couple of stylistically similar examples, please see "Solid Liquid: Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic Glass." Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York, 1999, p. 81, figs. 142-143.

Provenance: ex-private New Jersey, USA collection

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#149296
Condition Report: Neck repaired from a few large pieces, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor nicks to rim and base, with light encrustations to body. Nice earthen deposits and scattered areas of faint rainbow iridescence throughout.