Roman Sidonian Glass Vessel, Janus-Headed
Roman, Sidonian, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 4th century CE. A fine Janus-headed vessel of a petite size, mold-formed from opaque white glass. The vessel depicts two male heads - perhaps Bacchus (Greek Dionysos) - the god of wine, winemaking, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstacy - with tufts of wavy hair and resting upon an integral flat base with a cylindrical neck and flared rim. Vessels of this type were an invention of the 2nd century CE and continued to be made in the 3rd and 4th centuries. A lovely unguentarium or perfume bottle of a rare janiform presentation. Size: 1.785" W x 3" H (4.5 cm x 7.6 cm)
Sidon was a center of art glass production in ancient times. Here are Pliny's words as he described his voyage to Sidon, "From this point on we must go back to the coast and to Phoenicia. There was formerly a town called Crocodilian, and there still is a river of that name...Then comes Cape Carmel...Next are Getta, Geba, and the river Pacida or Belus...Close to this river is Ptolemais...Next Tyre, once an island separated from the mainland by a very deep sea-channel 700 yards wide, but now joined to it by the works constructed by Alexander when besieging the place...but the entire renown of Tyre now consists in a shell-fish and a purple dye!...Next are Zarephath and the city of birds (Ornithon oppidum), and Sidon, the mother-city of Thebes in Boeotia where glass is made." (Pliny, Natural History V.75-76, 77-79 AD).
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.
#143949
Condition Report: Normal surface wear commensurate with age. Covered with grey and black deposits.
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Roman, Sidonian, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 4th century CE. A fine Janus-headed vessel of a petite size, mold-formed from opaque white glass. The vessel depicts two male heads - perhaps Bacchus (Greek Dionysos) - the god of wine, winemaking, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstacy - with tufts of wavy hair and resting upon an integral flat base with a cylindrical neck and flared rim. Vessels of this type were an invention of the 2nd century CE and continued to be made in the 3rd and 4th centuries. A lovely unguentarium or perfume bottle of a rare janiform presentation. Size: 1.785" W x 3" H (4.5 cm x 7.6 cm)
Sidon was a center of art glass production in ancient times. Here are Pliny's words as he described his voyage to Sidon, "From this point on we must go back to the coast and to Phoenicia. There was formerly a town called Crocodilian, and there still is a river of that name...Then comes Cape Carmel...Next are Getta, Geba, and the river Pacida or Belus...Close to this river is Ptolemais...Next Tyre, once an island separated from the mainland by a very deep sea-channel 700 yards wide, but now joined to it by the works constructed by Alexander when besieging the place...but the entire renown of Tyre now consists in a shell-fish and a purple dye!...Next are Zarephath and the city of birds (Ornithon oppidum), and Sidon, the mother-city of Thebes in Boeotia where glass is made." (Pliny, Natural History V.75-76, 77-79 AD).
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.
#143949
Condition Report: Normal surface wear commensurate with age. Covered with grey and black deposits.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
