Description:

Ancient Rome, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A free-blown glass double unguent of pale green hues with elegant dark-blue applied rigaree wrapped around the conjoined unguents as well as their shared neck. Further enhancing the piece are twin trailed handles, also in deep blue and a trailed loop handle perpendicular to these on the neck. All in all a very unusual form as most double unguents do not share a neck. Brilliant iridescence too. Lucite stand. Size: 2.25" W x 4.5" H (5.7 cm x 11.4 cm); 5.125" H (13 cm) on stand

Wealthy women in ancient Rome used these pieces like this to contain precious oils, perfumes, or cosmetics. The rather unique design of this example - with its trailed handles set lower than usual (these more commonly bridge rims of necks to the upper ends of unguents), a third loop handle set perpendicular and above these, and most of all, the single neck shared by these two unguents which results in a form that resembles the lower half of a voluptuous female body with a narrow waist and curvy legs - sets it apart from most double unguents.

Provenance: Ex-private east coast, USA collection

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#120634

  • Condition: Slight losses to rigaree and some encrustation, but otherwise excellent. Areas of rainbow and silver iridescence.

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March 15, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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