Roman Polychrome Band Glass Alabastron

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st century B.C. to early 1st century A.D.

Material: Glass

Dimensions: 12 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3569

Provenance: Private collection Anton Tkalec, Vienna, since the 1980s.

Condition: Intact. The alabastron possibly once had a separate glass seal attachment, which, like in most cases, is missing today.

Description: Magnificent alabastron with a wall of colorful glass bands curving downwards. The opaque bands in strong colors, amongst them light blue, cobalt, black, white, light brown and dark yellow tones. The flask served as a perfume bottle and has a horizontal, flat rim and a long cylindrical body with a straight, towards the bottom slightly broadening wall. The base is rounded. Vessels such as the present one were considered as valuables in ancient times. They were produced in the eastern Mediterranean region. See for the type: “Frühes Glas der alten Welt. 1600 v. Chr.-50 n. Chr. Sammlung Ernesto Wolf”, Gerd Hatje 1994, number 88. For the production of the vessel, the melting and modelling of mosaic glasses, see D. F. Grose “Early Ancient Glass”, The Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo 1989, pages 261-262. Mounted.