Roman Glass Basket-Handled Double Unguentarium

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Warehouse Clear Out - Ancient & Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 20, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-12-20 10:00:00 2018-12-20 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Warehouse Clear Out - Ancient & Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/warehouse-clear-out---ancient-ethnographic-3742
Time to clear out the warehouse, as these lots are going, going, gone... plus a we've added a nice selection of lots brand-new to auction! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  **Originally Listed At $750**
  
  Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A gorgeous free-blown, near-opaque glass unguentarium of a pale blue-green hue. The container is comprised of two conjoined tubes with a shared base, rolled rims with a small lower indentation, a pair of applied trail handles joining rim to body, and a parabolic basket handle arching over the vessel. Wealthy women in ancient Roman times would employ these pieces to contain their precious oils, perfumes, or cosmetics, though the tubes could also be utilized as a balsamarium to hold copious amounts of writing ink. The exterior of the vessel is covered in stunning layers of fiery silver and rainbow iridescence in amethyst, sapphire, emerald, topaz, citrine, ruby, and golden hues which elegantly complement the muted turquoise composition. Custom lucite display stand included. Size: 3.25" W x 7.25" H (8.3 cm x 18.4 cm); 7.75" H (19.7 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Most scholars agree, Roman glass was of the highest quality - both aesthetically and technically - among the ancients. While glass making had been practiced for centuries, glass blowing was invented in the Roman-controlled Holy Land in the 1st century BCE. This innovative technology revolutionized the artform. We can appreciate such a wide variety of forms and shapes, because the medium of glass has unique physical properties that make for so many more possibilities which would eventually replace a wide variety of pottery and metal wares in the ancient world. Roman glassmakers reached incredible artistic heights with both free-blown vessels and mold blown forms and decorations and were traded far beyond the Roman Empire. Roman glass vessels have been found in Scandinavia, India, and in Han Dynasty tombs in China.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
  
  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 and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #135599

  Condition

  Ancient loss to bottom of body. Surface wear and minor abrasions commensurate with age, one stable hairline fissure to side of one container, light roughness and very minor nicks to handles, body, and base, and some sharp edges along base and handles. Light earthen deposits as well as stunning silvery and rainbow-hued iridescence throughout.
• Shipping Info

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