Late Roman/Early Byzantine Bulbous perfume bottle with a tall, tapering spout and two small eyelet hooks. - 122 mm

Late antique perfume vial with a high spout and ring handles, 3rd–8th century AD.

A strikingly decorative late antique perfume and salve vial made of light blue glass, with a globular, rounded body, a mounted stand foot, and an unusually tall, markedly tapering neck or spout that narrows toward the opening.

The nearly spherical body rests on a separately formed, ring-shaped stand. A particularly characteristic feature is the extraordinarily elongated, conically tapering neck, whose small orifice is reduced to nearly the diameter of a fine opening. At the lower neck junction, two small ring handles are opposite each other. These are formed from dark-looking glass threads and, despite their small size, give the vessel a distinctive silhouette.

The original light blue glass color is only partially visible due to strong ancient surface weathering. Large areas are coated with a dense beige-to-silver-gray patina. Between these appear iridescent layers in gold, green, blue, and violet hues. This so-called pearl iridescence gives the vessel an especially appealing, centuries-spawned surface effect.

The very narrow, long extended spout would have enabled economical and controlled dosing of precious liquids. Accordingly, its use for perfume, aromatic essences, cosmetic oils, or similar substances is plausible. The combination of a globular body, tall spout, counterstand ring, and small ring handles makes the vessel an unusual representative of late antique small-glass forms.

Culture: Roman Empire / Late Antiquity
Dating: 3rd–8th century AD
Material: light blue glass
Dimensions: 122 × 49 × 49 mm

Condition:
Intact, with pearl iridescence

Provenance:
Acquired 2026 in the German art market, previously since before 2000 in private collection H. L., Rhineland

The invoice is available and will be provided to the buyer as a copy!