Lot 58
Roman, Late Imperial Period, ca. 4th to early 5th century CE. A fabulous free-blown glass bowl with a slightly concave base and smooth pontil scar, gradually-expanding walls, a shallow basin, and an out-folded rim with a fire-polished lip. The exterior of the vessel is adorned with five impressed avian figures - four upright and one upside-down - with rectangular feet, forked tails, bulbous bodies, and perky heads with short beaks. Though suggestive of the ubiquitous Roman eagle at first, these birds more closely resemble ravens, an ancient symbol of medicine and healing associated with Asclepius, son of Apollo. The ravens on this bowl indicate this vessel was used for medicinal purposes, perhaps to administer medication or store certain ingredients. Covered in thick layers of rainbow-hued iridescence, this is a wonderful and exceedingly rare example of glass-blowing artistry! Size: 3.625" Diameter x 1" H (9.2 cm x 2.5 cm).
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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#139567
- Condition: Minor nicks to rim, body, and base, light abrasions, with some micro-bubbling within glass matrix, and softening to some impressed details, otherwise intact and very good. A smooth pontil scar indicates the vessel was free-blown and that it was smoothed away or wore away naturally over time. Light earthen deposits and fabulous rainbow iridescence throughout.
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