Lacrimal romano, siglos I-III. d. C

Roman lacrimal, 1st-3rd century AD. C.
Blown glass.
Measurements: 7 cm.
Made of blown glass, the lacrimal has a stylised structure. This type of object was used during Roman funeral rites to collect the tears of the deceased's relatives, and was finally buried next to the body.
The use of glass began to become widespread from the 1st century AD, following the discovery of the technique of glassblowing around 40 BC, in the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast. This technique was a major revolution and spread rapidly. Blown glass offered great advantages over other materials because it did not change the taste of the food it contained and was more impermeable than terracotta. In addition, the blowing technique made it possible to produce pieces in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and also to produce them more quickly. On the other hand, glass pieces were easier to clean, so it soon became the favourite material for domestic use.

Este lote puede verse en la Sala de SetdartBarcelona situada en C/Aragón, 346.