A delicate Roman light blue glass sprinkler flask. The vessel features a flat dimpled base, globular body, a cylindrical neck with a slight constriction at its base, wide mouth and rolled rim. Inside the flask, within the neck, there is a folded diaphragm with a constricted opening; such hole would have allowed precious liquids, such as perfumed oil for beautification, to be used sparingly. Earthy encrustations cover most of the vessel, consistent with the age of the item. A stable crack runs down from the rim to the constriction at the neck. The invention of glass-blowing revolutionised the art of glass-making in the 1st century BC. The new technique allowed craftsmen to use smaller amounts of glass for each vessel and obtain much thinner walls, so enabling the creation of a variety of glass containers in new forms. Different minerals were added to create a variety of colours. Bottles such as this fine example would have stored cosmetics or drinking products, and were used by households and merchants across the Roman Empire. The iridescence on ancient Roman glass was unintentional, and was caused by weathering on its surface. The extent to which a glass object weathers depends mainly on the burial conditions; however, the humidity, heat, and type of soil in which the glass was buried also all affect its preservation. Measurements: Circa H 9.5cm x W 7cm Provenance: From the collection of a London gentleman, bought 1970s and by descent.