Lot 45
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Roman, Lebanon, Sidonian, early Imperial Period, ca. 1st to early 2nd century CE. A lovely mold-blown flask resembling a date fruit in gorgeous translucent amber glass with hints of honey and caramel. The petite ovoid form has a rounded base, textured walls that mimic the wrinkles of date skin, a corseted neck, and a narrow rim surrounding the mouth. Scattered areas of silvery iridescence have formed across the composition and imbue it with a wonderful presentation. Size: 1.125" W x 2.375" H (2.9 cm x 6 cm); 2.75" H (7 cm) on included custom stand.
Here are Pliny's words as he describes his voyage to Sidon: "From this point on we must go back to the coast and to Phoenicia. There was formerly a town called Crocodilian, and there still is a river of that name . . . Then comes Cape Carmel . . . Next are Getta, Geba, and the river Pacida or Belus . . . Close to this river is Ptolemais . . . Next Tyre, once an island separated from the mainland by a very deep sea-channel 700 yards wide, but now joined to it by the works constructed by Alexander when besieging the place . . . but the entire renown of Tyre now consists in a shell-fish and purple dye! . . . Next are Zarephath and the city of birds (Ornithon oppidum), and Sidon, the mother-city of Thebes in Boeotia where glass is made." (Pliny, Natural History V.75-76, 77-79 CE)
For a couple of stylistically similar examples, please see "Solid Liquid: Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic Glass." Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York, 1999, p. 80, figs. 139-140.
Provenance: ex-private DeCarlo collection, New Jersey, USA by family descent - acquired around 1990
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#149300
- Condition: Minor pitting to areas of body, otherwise intact and excellent. Scattered areas of faint silver iridescence across body.
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