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. Large size Roman glass perfume bottle in a rare dark brown colour. The bottle has a rounded, globular body rising to a short cylindrical neck. The base is smoothly rounded and slightly everted in the centre. -> The form is typical of Roman bottles, used to store oils, perfumes or other valuable liquids. Height: ± 81 mm Diameter: ± 61,2 mm Condition: intact and good solid condition with very appealing silverish patina with iridescence and mineral accretions from long burial. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format). -> Glass has existed in natural forms since prehistoric times; however, humans first began producing glass around 4,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, when craftsmen discovered how to combine sand, soda and lime. For centuries, glass remained a luxury material reserved for the upper classes. Across the Mediterranean world, glassmakers developed techniques such as casting, core-forming and mosaic glass, while experimenting with colours using metallic oxides including cobalt and copper. The Romans adopted glassmaking following the conquest of Egypt in the 1st century BC. During the 1st century AD, the invention of glassblowing revolutionised production, allowing for larger-scale manufacturing. By adding manganese dioxide, Roman glassmakers were able to produce colourless or ‘aqua’ glass. Roman glass became highly popular and was widely used for beads, vessels, mosaic tiles and window panes. It was traded throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, reaching regions such as Central Africa, Scandinavia and, via the Silk Road, as far as China.