Tall Roman Glass Beaker / Oil Lamp

Roman, late Imperial Period, ca. 4th to early 5th century CE. A stunning example of a beaker that could double as an oil lamp and vice versa, free-blown from nearly transparent glass of a soft yellow-green hue. The conical vessel exhibits incredibly thin walls with two wheel-cut striations, and the base tapers and condenses in a spherical foot. Thin areas of silvery iridescence have formed across the vessel and elegantly accentuate its gentle olive hues. Size: 3.6" W x 6.25" H (9.1 cm x 15.9 cm); 6.75" H (17.1 cm) on included custom stand.

For a stylistically similar examples with inlaid blue glass adornments, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 17.194.149.

Provenance: East Coast, USA collection; ex major New York Gallery before 2011

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#154199
Condition Report: Minor micro-bubbling within glass matrix, very light encrustations, and minor nicks around rim, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice areas of silver iridescence.