Ancient Roman Glass baby feeder or small spouted container wi

ITEM: Bottle with spout
MATERIAL: Glass
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 3rd - 4th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 85 mm x 80 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, W.F., Munich, acquired before 2000s

Amphorae vitreae (Roman glass flasks) were ubiquitous vessels, their popularity exploding after the invention of glassblowing in the mid-1st century BCE revolutionized the glass industry. This new, cost-effective technique allowed for the rapid, mass production of thin-walled, lightweight containers, transforming glass from a luxury good—often imitating rock crystal or precious stone—into an affordable, everyday material accessible to all social classes. These flasks were made from natron glass, typically exhibiting a pale bluish-green color due to iron oxide impurities in the sand, though artisans later perfected techniques to produce prized colorless or vividly colored glass using metal oxides like cobalt (for blue) or manganese (for purple).

Roman glass flasks served a wide array of practical and ritualistic functions throughout the empire. The most common form was the slender, tubular or pear-shaped unguentarium (or "tear bottle"), used for holding and dispensing small quantities of expensive perfumes, oils, and cosmetics for the daily toilette. Larger, utilitarian flasks often had squared or globular bodies, sometimes reinforced with mold-blown patterns like ribs or geometric designs, and were used for transporting and storing foodstuffs like wine, olive oil, and medicinal liquids. Their non-porous and odorless nature made glass superior to pottery for sensitive contents.

The shapes and decoration of glass flasks were diverse, reflecting the ingenuity of Roman glassworkers. Artisans utilized both free-blowing and mold-blowing techniques to create an enormous variety of forms, including novelty flasks shaped like fruits (such as the famous grape flasks), animals, human heads, or comic theatrical masks. Decoration often involved applied glass trails (snake-thread or simple spirals) around the neck and body, or intricate cut-and-carved designs on luxury pieces like the multi-layered cameo glass and the famous cage cups (vasa diatretra). Flasks were particularly significant in funerary rites, where they were placed in tombs, either filled with perfumed oil for anointing the deceased or to simply accompany the body into the afterlife.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license

If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.