Roman Glass Sprinkler Vessel

**Originally Listed At $300**

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A delicate, beautifully preserved mold-made clear glass sprinkler vessel with a conical body, corseted neck with wheel cut line between the shoulder and neck, and a flaring mouth with a thick lip for controlling the flow of liquid. An applied disc of glass forms the foot. This vessel was made to hold precious oils or perfumes of the sort used by women and men; the narrowed neck prevented evaporation of the expensive liquids. Age has given this piece a beautiful pearlescence around much of the body, with rainbow iridescence around the mouth. Size: 2.9" W x 3.9" H (7.4 cm x 9.9 cm)

Provenance: The Dere Family Collection, New York, USA, assembled 1970s-2000s; ex-Martin Wunsch Collection, New York, USA, acquired in 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.

#146886
Condition Report: Intact, with light scratches and wear on the surface commensurate with age. The edge of the rim is slightly jagged. Excellent pearlescence and, on the mouth, rainbow iridescence, on much of the surface. The applied foot obscures whether or not there is a pontil mark, but the form of the mouth looks like the vessel was mold made. A pontil scar or mark indicates that a vessel was free-blown, while the absence of such a mark suggests that the work was either mold-blown or that the mark was intentionally smoothed away or wore away over time.