ROMAN GLASS CANDLESTICK UNGUENTARIUM WITH HANDLE

Circa 400 AD. A rare Roman candlestick unguentarium formed in a green glass, featuring a short sectioned globular body with a concave base, an extremely long cylindrical neck and a wide, flaring, rolled rim. The body is decorated with a beautiful blue trailing in the centre, it has an unusual blue glass handle which has been attached separately. Unguentaria usually contained perfume and oil, both precious materials during the Roman Empire which were used both in private life and public ceremonies and even funerals. Candlestick unguentaria are among the most wide-spread glass shapes and have been recovered across the Roman Empire. For examples of Roman glass from the same period see Roman Glass in the Corning Museum, Volume one, David Whitehouse.Size: L:215mm / W:125mm ; 310gProvenance: Property of a UK Ancient Art gallery; previously in a private US collection.