Gorgeous Roman Blue / White Marbled Glass Bottle

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE. Truly breathtaking - a cast and blown mosaic vessel comprised of canes of cobalt blue, aubergine, and white glass with striking iridescence in fiery hues of violet, aqua, spring green, ice blue, and champagne pink. The vessel presents a piriform body with a tall cylindrical neck, and splayed, infolded lip. Note how the mosaic canes were artfully marvered into the surface to create elegant swags of ribbon-like patterns throughout the body, shoulders, neck, and rim. Then the artisan inflated the form, thus amplifying this effect to add to the drama of the decorative program. Much like gold-band glass, such vessels created by using various canes of glass are called "color-band" or "marbled glass". A stunning example of ancient Roman glass! Size: 4.125" H (10.5 cm)

A very similar Roman blue marbled glass flask sold at Christie's London for GBP 12,500 (16,605 USD) - Sale 13850, 6 July 2016, Lot 212.

Another very similar example is published in the beautiful "Solid Liquid" catalogue (figure 72, p. 53 - Fortuna Fine Arts Ltd., New York, 1999).

In addition, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a comparable example in their collection (accession number 74.51.195).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Stephen Shalom collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#152843 Dimensions: Condition Report: A few circular popped bubble marks on walls and a couple of hairline pressure fissures on the base that are exceedingly difficult to see. Glass has developed fiery iridescence in a virtual rainbow of colors.