ROMAN WHITE GLASS PERFUME BOTTLE
MEDITERRANEAN, C. 2ND - 3RD CENTURY A.D.
Estimate: £500 - £800
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
blown glass, the piriform body leading to a slender cylindrical neck terminating in a fold out rim
Dimensions
13cm tall
Provenance
Private collection, United Kingdom
Shlomo Moussaieff, London, United Kingdom, collection formed 1948 - 2000
Footnote
Natural Roman glass typically exhibited a pale blue-green hue due to its mineral composition. Variations in colour were achieved through the deliberate addition of minerals, which triggered specific chemical reactions during the glass-making process. In the present piece, the delicate white coloration would have been produced by the introduction of antimony, a substance known to alter the optical properties of the glass, resulting in an opacified or subtly translucent appearance.