**Originally Listed At $1500**
Roman, Sidonian, ca. 2nd to 4th century CE. Wow! An opulent mold-made glass flask boasting gorgeous relief decoration of Bacchic imagery: a row of wine vessels above a scrolling vine of grapes. Each relief vessel is framed by a pair of columns that support archways above adorning the shoulder. Two of the vessels appear to hold additional bunches of grapes as well. These bunches of grapes would have been an allusion to Bacchus - Greek Dionysus - the infamous god of wine, hence the inclusion of vessels used to serve wine in the above row. A lovely oil or perfume bottle of an attractive form in a creamy hue of beige, quite refined and presenting exquisite detailing! Size: 1.6" Diameter x 2.9" H (4.1 cm x 7.4 cm)
Sidon was a center of art glass production in ancient times. Here are Pliny's words as he described his voyage to Sidon, "From this point on we must go back to the coast and to Phoenicia. There was formerly a town called Crocodilian, and there still is a river of that name … Then comes Cape Carmel … Next are Getta, Geba, and the river Pacida or Belus … Close to this river is Ptolemais … Next Tyre, once an island separated from the mainland by a very deep sea-channel 700 yards wide, but now joined to it by the works constructed by Alexander when besieging the place … but the entire renown of Tyre now consists in a shell-fish and a purple dye! … Next are Zarephath and the city of birds (Ornithon oppidum), and Sidon, the mother-city of Thebes in Boeotia where glass is made." (Pliny, Natural History V.75-76, 77-79 AD).
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Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010; ex-Arte Primitivo
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#175352
Condition
Some light nicks and abrasions, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining detail.