Ancient Roman Glass Unguents Bottle with Iridescence

A Roman pale blue glass unguentarium toilet bottle with an out-turned rim, relatively long neck, and a bulbous body. The bottle has a flattened base.

Condition: Complete and intact, with silvery iridescence over part of the body.
Height 10.6 cms (4.2 ins).

Roman eastern empire: Circa 2^nd-3rd Century AD.

For similar, see item 431; Ancient Glass in the National Museums Scotland; C. S. Lightfoot.

Purchased from UK collection of P.C. 1990-2010

At the height of its popularity in Rome, glass was present in nearly every aspect of daily life. It was a particularly favoured container for precious, valuable liquids, such as expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines which were produced from all corners of the Roman Empire.