Up until the 1st century AD, glass was only available to the rich. During the first century AD, glass blowing became the method of choice and significantly reduced the thickness of the glass and the finish work required to complete a piece. This made glass ownership affordable to all Romans. In the picture above and the items that follow, you can see a bit of the variety produced during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries AD. From tear vials to large containers, glass items were produced in large quantities. With prices ranging from $35 to $975, I think there is something here for any budget. Thank you for looking.
Roman Glass - top row [ without thumbnail images ]
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Roman Glass, ca AD 3rd-4th
century height: 18.4 cm (over 7 inches tall) width: 14.7 cm (at widest point) (almost 6 inches wide at widest point) weight: 211.4 grams Beautiful large example of Roman glass bottle. Excellent patina and interesting shape with impressed neck. Fully intact but with typical flaws in glass as created and aged. |
$975.00 |
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Roman Glass, ca AD
2nd-3rd
century height: 17.4 cm (almost 7 inches tall) width: 4.9 cm (at widest point) weight: 47.32 grams Nice amphora style glass vial displayed on a custom display. Fully intact. Reference: Corning 694 |
$745.00 |
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Roman Glass, ca AD 2nd-3rd
century height: 14.5 cm (almost 6 inches tall) width: 7.0 cm (at widest point) weight: 100.1 grams Tall beaker-shaped piece, thicker glass than most pieces. May have been used to heat the contents as the base appears to have been darkened from heating. Fully intact but with internal stress fissures, none of which compromise the integrity of the specimen. |
$325.00 |
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Roman Glass, ca AD 4th-5th
century height: 11.4 cm width: 6.2 cm (at widest point) weight: 35.39 grams A beautiful piece of pale aqua glass, finely blown to a thin glass vial. Fully intact. |
$325.00 |
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Roman Glass, ca AD
2nd-3rd
century height: 12.6 cm (about 5 inches tall) width: 5.0 cm (at widest point) weight: 38.57 grams This tall, slender vial is quite nice with some iridescence still present. Fully intact. |
$195.00 |
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Roman Glass, ca AD 3rd-4th
century height: 7.8 cm width: 4.7 cm (at widest point) weight: 17.30 grams Gorgeous olive-green bulbous bottle with slender neck. Excellent thinly blown specimen. |
$85.00 |
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Roman Terracotta Vial, ca AD
4th-5th
century height: 7.8 cm width: 3.7 cm (at widest point) weight: 28.88 grams Very nice example of Roman terracotta vial. I know this is not glass but functionally it fit with the glass being offered. |
$65.00 |
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Roman Glass, ca AD 3rd-4th
century height: 7.1 cm width: 5.8 cm (at widest point) weight: grams I am going to assume that this glass vial was meant to have its nozzle a bit off center to facilitate pouring. Otherwise, this was made by an apprentice. Fully intact. |
$75.00 |