Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A mold-formed glass sprinkler flask featuring lovely rainbow-hued iridescence across its surfaces. The vessel presents a concave base with a pontil scar, a spherical body, a compressed neck with a pinhole opening, a tall, collared rim, and a pair of pulled trail handles stretching between the sloped shoulder and upper rim. A diaphragm is contained within the flask at the junction of the neck and body, allowing valuable liquid to be poured out drop by drop. Sprinkler flasks were designed to conservatively dispense precious scented oils and perfumes while concurrently mitigating the rapid evaporation of its contents. Size: 3.375" W x 4" H (8.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
Cf. "Solid Liquid: Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic Glass." Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York, 1999, p. 103, fig. 189
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Mr. & Mrs. James DiBella collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired from Khader M. Baidun & Sons, Jerusalem, Israel in 2000
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#165011
Condition
Minor chips to upper and lower handle terminals, with chipping to pontil scar beneath base, otherwise intact and very good. Great iridescence throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.