Tall Roman Glass Footed Beaker, ex-Christie's

**Originally Listed At $1200**

Roman, Late Imperial Period, ca. 5th century CE. An incredibly tall glass footed vessel comprised of nearly colorless glass - though with a tinge of pale yellow-green hues - and very translucent. The body presents an inverted piriform shape upon a hollow base ring, and is adorned by pattern-molded, diagonal everted ribs winding their way up the vessel. A sizeable and quite lovely example - with beautiful silvery and rainbow-hued iridescence. Size: 6.75" H (17.1 cm); 7.375" H (18.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Pliny the Elder paid homage to the beauty of the many hues created in hand-blown glass, but pointed out that colorless translucent glass was the most coveted, "There is, furthermore, opaque white glass and others that reproduce the appearance of fluor-spar, blue sapphires or lapis lazuli, and, indeed, glass exists in any color . . . However, the most highly valued glass is colorless and transparent, as closely as possible resembling rock-crystal." (Pliny, Natural History XXXVI.198 from "Solid Liquid" catalogue, Fortuna Fine Arts, New York, 1999, p. 64.)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Christie's, New York Antiquities auction (sale 2565, June 8, 2012, lot 141)

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#143436
Condition Report: Upper section repaired from multiple pieces. Loss to rim. Areas of silvery and rainbow iridescence grace the surface. Expected weathering film and deposits. Base is smooth with no visible pontil mark suggesting that this cup may have been mold blown.