Ancient Roman, Empire Glass Bottle
13
days
23
hours
48
minutes
13
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 230 - € 280
No bids placed
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Ancient Roman glass bottle with a globular body and short cylindrical neck, dating to the 2nd–3rd century AD, in good condition and intact with no cracks, approximately 43 mm in diameter and 45 mm high, now opaque brownish from interior sand and soil, with authenticity certificate available on request.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman glass bottle with a globular body and a short cylindrical neck, free blown in translucent glass. The vessel has a rounded, well balanced profile with a slightly everted rim and a smoothly constricted neck transitioning into the body. The glass now appears opaque brownish due to compacted dried sand and soil adhering to the interior, giving the surface a warm, earthy tone rather than its original clarity.
A characteristic and attractive example of Roman utilitarian glassware, reflecting the widespread use of blown glass for everyday storage and transport of liquids such as oils, perfumes or medicinal substances.
Size: ± 43 mm maximum diameter
Height: ± 45 mm
Condition: intact and complete. No cracks or repairs observed. Surface wear and weathering on the rim consistent with age. Dried sand and soil remain inside the vessel, contributing to the present colour and appearance.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Roman glass production flourished from the early Imperial period onwards, following the invention of glassblowing in the late 1st century BC. This technique allowed vessels to be produced quickly and in large quantities, making glass containers accessible across the Roman world. Bottles of this form were commonly used in domestic, cosmetic and commercial contexts, and are widely found throughout the Roman Empire.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman glass bottle with a globular body and a short cylindrical neck, free blown in translucent glass. The vessel has a rounded, well balanced profile with a slightly everted rim and a smoothly constricted neck transitioning into the body. The glass now appears opaque brownish due to compacted dried sand and soil adhering to the interior, giving the surface a warm, earthy tone rather than its original clarity.
A characteristic and attractive example of Roman utilitarian glassware, reflecting the widespread use of blown glass for everyday storage and transport of liquids such as oils, perfumes or medicinal substances.
Size: ± 43 mm maximum diameter
Height: ± 45 mm
Condition: intact and complete. No cracks or repairs observed. Surface wear and weathering on the rim consistent with age. Dried sand and soil remain inside the vessel, contributing to the present colour and appearance.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Roman glass production flourished from the early Imperial period onwards, following the invention of glassblowing in the late 1st century BC. This technique allowed vessels to be produced quickly and in large quantities, making glass containers accessible across the Roman world. Bottles of this form were commonly used in domestic, cosmetic and commercial contexts, and are widely found throughout the Roman Empire.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman, Empire
Century/ Timeframe
2nd-3rd century AD
Name of object
Bottle
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2025
Material
Glass
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2025
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
