A beautiful Ancient Roman yellow glass bottle. The vessel features a small concave base and a smooth cylindrical body. The domed shoulder leads towards a short, narrow neck and a circular mouth with a flared, flattened rim. Earthly encrustations and a silvery iridescence covers the surface, as well as signs of wear as consistent with age, such as weathering, scratches, and pitting Glass was often the preferred material for storing expensive oils, perfumes, and medicines because it was not porous. The small body and mouth allowed the user to carefully pour and control the amount of liquid dispensed. By the 1st century AD, the technique of glass-blowing had revolutionised the art of glass-making, allowing for the production of small medicine, incense, and perfume containers in new forms. These small glass bottles are found frequently at Hellenistic and Roman sites, especially in cemeteries, and the liquids which filled them would have been gathered from all corners of the expansive 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 8.5cm x W 4.1cm Provenance: Ex London Art Market, acquired 1980s-90s.