Collection of the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
1988.05.002

Glass unguentarium, Roman

200 BCE – 101 BCE (Date created)
Glass
Blown glass
Vases
6 in H (Object)
Notes: 1.25 inches at the lip and 2.75 inches at the neck
15.3 cm H (Object)
Roman;Syrian
Overall shape is globular, flat bottomed with an indentation, five nodules around the shoulder, with a long, think neck that flares starting 1.25" from the lip. The flaring also has a decorative element, with a spiral threading leading to the lip.
Much of the ancient glass of Syrian and Persian origin is at times classified as Roman because Rome controlled these areas during the reign of Julius Caesar. Roman efforts at blowing glass resulted in bottles or flasks of simple shapes with a fre-blown bulbous body, a longish cylindrical neck and a projecting rim. Mostly all were made without handles. So-called tear bottles, small club-formed vials, were supposedly receptacles for the tears of mourners and are common funerary finds
- Exhibition label from Marjory Pikunas
In Collection
Bought from R. H. Macy on June 29 1931
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.