Miniature Roman Glass Pilgrim's Flask, ex-Bonhams

Roman, Late Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. An endearingly tiny pilgrim flask, free blown from blue-green glass with a characteristically flattened, lentoid body leading to a cylindrical neck that is gently cinched at the base, and a flat ground rim. This vessel type is called a pilgrim flask, because of its flattened form which made it easy to fit into a traveler's bag. A wonderful example presenting stunning iridescence of purple, pink, yellow, and blue hues. Size: 1.2" W x 2.25" H (3 cm x 5.7 cm)

This item and twenty-three other items hammered at Bonhams, London, Knightsbridge Antiquities Auction (May 8, 2013, part of lot 198).

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA; ex-Bonhams, London, Knightsbridge Antiquities Auction (May 8, 2013, part of lot 198); ex-private United Kingdom collection, acquired between 1955 and 1976 in Lebanon and the Near East

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#139113
Condition Report: There may have once been a lip that was lost some time ago; otherwise intact with great iridescence, especially on the lower body.