Roman glass jar with indented sides

A Roman free blown jar in pale green glass. The jar has a rounded rectangular body with four indentations, made with a tool the rim splayed out to the diameter of the body, and standing on a flattened, base.

Roman eastern empire: 3rd century AD. (likely 200-250 AD.)

Complete and intact with areas of pretty iridescence, a light crust over parts of the body.

Height: 7.8 cms (3 ins).

For similar example see item 153 Ancient Lamps in the Royal Ontario Museum J.W. Hayes

Purchased from UK collection of P.C. 1990-2010

According to Stuart Flemming (Roman Glass: Reflections on Cultural Change ) this kind of vessel is quite identical to one found in a physician’s grave in Cologne, Germany.

Such flasks are frequently at Hellenistic and Roman sites, especially in cemeteries. Its most common use was probably as a container for the cosmetic oils and unguents, which were gathered from all corners of the extensive Roman empire.