The wrinkled surface and the colour of this vessel combine to give a naturalistic representation of a dried date. Small mould-blown flasks of this type were common in the  More »

The wrinkled surface and the colour of this vessel combine to give a naturalistic representation of a dried date. Small mould-blown flasks of this type were common in the first and second centuries A.D and have been found across the Roman Empire.This vessel would have been blown into a two-part mould of two vertical sections, it is of a honey brown colour, the rim is rounded, the neck is short. The relief patterns consist of short wavy ridges imitating the wrinkles of the skin of a ripe date. Flasks of this kind would have been probably made to store perfume.(LK) - (G.0389)   « Less

Origin: Hebron Circa: 1 st Century AD to 2 nd Century AD Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high x 2.375" (6.0cm) wide Catalogue: V1 Collection: Classical Style: Blown Glass Medium:  More »

Origin: Hebron Circa: 1 st Century AD to 2 nd Century AD Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high x 2.375" (6.0cm) wide Catalogue: V1 Collection: Classical Style: Blown Glass Medium: Glass   « Less

Glass was a rare commodity in antiquity, used to contain only the most costly and precious of substances. What did this vase hold when Rome was the center of the world, and  More »

Glass was a rare commodity in antiquity, used to contain only the most costly and precious of substances. What did this vase hold when Rome was the center of the world, and who might have gripped its sinuous handle to pour out its precious contents? Though the vessel appears empty, we can fill it completely with the heady essence of imagination. - (G.0413)   « Less

Origin: Jordan (Gadara) Circa: 100 AD to 300 AD Catalogue: V1 Collection: Classical Style: Mould Blown Medium: Glass

Origin: Jordan (Gadara) Circa: 100 AD to 300 AD Catalogue: V1 Collection: Classical Style: Mould Blown Medium: Glass   « Less

A long neck with an everted lip is supported by an ovoid body. Iridescent silver blends with a myriad of other radiant colors to produce a dazzling effect like a spectrum of  More »

A long neck with an everted lip is supported by an ovoid body. Iridescent silver blends with a myriad of other radiant colors to produce a dazzling effect like a spectrum of pure light molded into glass. Though colored glass had been produced for centuries, it was still regarded as a luxury item. This very lovely vessel would probably been owned by a wealthy family, perhaps used to hold precious ointments or perfume. Though the liquid is long vanished-- the substance of this vessel, i.e. its rare beauty, is as vibrant today as it was hundreds of years ago. - (G.0058)   « Less

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 3 rd Century AD to 4 th Century AD Dimensions: 2.625" (6.7cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide Collection: Classical Style: Blown Glass Medium:  More »

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 3 rd Century AD to 4 th Century AD Dimensions: 2.625" (6.7cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide Collection: Classical Style: Blown Glass Medium: Glass   « Less

Utter simplicity is what endears this small vase to the modern eye, as it must also have pleased the ancient one. The elegant shape perfectly compliments the rare white  More »

Utter simplicity is what endears this small vase to the modern eye, as it must also have pleased the ancient one. The elegant shape perfectly compliments the rare white color, creating a work of art to which nothing need be added. In the contemporary world, it seems, we can still learn much about beauty from the classical age. - (G.0913)   « Less

The passage of centuries has graced this splendid vessel with a glowing iridescence, making it look as if carved from a rare gemstone. The elegant purity of its shape appeals  More »

The passage of centuries has graced this splendid vessel with a glowing iridescence, making it look as if carved from a rare gemstone. The elegant purity of its shape appeals to the modern eye as much as it would have pleased the ancient, proving that classical beauty never goes out of fashion. In the world of terracotta vessels, marble sculpture, and bronze adornment that was the Classical world, no material was prized so much as glass. The material itself was rare, and the process of its forging so laborious, that few artisans took the time necessary to develop the skill. It would have required years of experience for a glass-maker to yield a piece of this quality. This piece demonstrates not only an intimate understanding of the glassmaker’s craft but an equally delicate knowledge of the human form. Feel how perfectly the orb-shaped base fits into your hand. Notice how easily and comfortably your finger curves around the supple spout. When we notice how perfectly suited this vessel is for the human touch, it reminds us that this piece of art was created not only for the sake of beauty, but for utility. Imagine the wonderful existence of the Roman aristocrat who possessed this piece. Every cup he drained, every chair he sat upon, every door-handle he turned was crafted with infinite elegance and complete originality. To turn this piece over in our hands is to transport ourselves into a dimension in which every aspect of the ordinary is laced with incomparable beauty, and meticulous grace. While we enshrine magnificent pieces such as this bit of glass, there was once a time where everything in one’s world was of its quality. To possess it is to delicately hold, for the last time, a shred of a world where opulence, creativity, and the pursuit of the rare and exceptional were once as plentiful as glass is in the modern world. - (G.1002)   « Less

Vessels such as this one were produced in the second half of the first century AD, slightly after the appearance of the classic Sidonian vessels.This flask has an everted  More »

Vessels such as this one were produced in the second half of the first century AD, slightly after the appearance of the classic Sidonian vessels.This flask has an everted rim, a cylindrical neck and an ovoid body resting on a flat base. Two handles are drawn upward from the shoulder and attached with a fold just under the rim. The decoration on the body is divided into three horizontal bands: the top and bottom bands consist of vertical ribbings, and the middle band consists of interlacing scrolls.Such vessels were carelessly executed and were produced for a mass market. - (GF.0042)   « Less

Glass has been a prized material for centuries. Although it is not known for certain when man first started making glass, it probably was first produced in Western Asia about  More »

Glass has been a prized material for centuries. Although it is not known for certain when man first started making glass, it probably was first produced in Western Asia about 4000 years ago. A 17th century B.C. site on the Tigris River in ancient Mesopotamia gives us our first written information about glass making techniques. It was there that a tablet was discovered which contained a recipe for a glass glaze. Although the oldest complete glass vessels are found in ancient Egypt, it was the Romans who discovered that glass, when hot, could be blown like a soap bubble on the end of a hollow, metal blowing rod. Thus, the manufacture of glass was instantly revolutionized. For the first time glassmakers could use the unique malleable quality of glass. Soon the material began to be treasured in its own right, rather than as an imitation of other precious substances. This greenish-blue glass flask is a beautiful example of the Roman artists' ability to manipulate this complex medium. Its tall, stately body has a slim, cylindrical neck and wide folded rim, nicely proportioned to complement the rectangular lines of the body. A graceful strap handle is attached to the flask from the neck to the shoulder, adding an element of elegance to this timeless work of art. How fortunate we are that this radiant masterpiece has survived over the centuries, its lustrous beauty stimulating our senses and enhancing our appreciation for the innovative efforts of the ancient Roman craftsman who created it. - (GF.0011)   « Less