Lot 157

Pair of Roman Glass Vessels - Ribbed Bottles

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 157
image_0 image_1 image_2
Pair of Roman Glass Vessels - Ribbed Bottles
Pair of Roman Glass Vessels - Ribbed Bottles
image_0 image_1 image_2

Pair of Roman Glass Vessels - Ribbed Bottles

Estimate: $800 - $1,200

Current Bid: $400

(1 Bid)
by Artemis Fine Arts
August 6, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Roman, Imperial period, ca. 100–300 CE. A pair of blown-glass bottles, each rising from a rounded, near-globular body to a slender neck and a flaring, out-turned rim folded at the lip. The walls carry soft vertical ribbing that catches the light, while the smaller vessel is further worked with a subtle dimpled pattern pressed into its shoulder and belly. Centuries in the earth have veiled the surfaces in a milky, silvery-green weathering, that iridescent bloom prized by collectors of ancient glass, shot through here with warm earthen ochres. Modestly scaled and unguent-sized, such bottles likely held perfumed oils, cosmetics, or ointments in the Roman household, their forms shaped freehand at the furnace by a glassblower's practiced breath and turning tool. Size of largest: 2.5" D x 3.1" H (6.3 cm D x 7.9 cm H).

The introduction of glassblowing in the first century BCE, likely in the Syro-Palestinian region of the Roman East, transformed glass from a rare luxury into an everyday commodity. Small toilet bottles like these, produced in vast numbers across the Empire, carried the perfumed oils and cosmetics central to Roman grooming. The lustrous surface iridescence is not original but a product of burial: alkali leaching from the glass in damp soil builds up microscopic weathering layers that refract light, a chemical accident later generations came to treasure as beauty.

Provenance: private Marysville, Washington, USA collection; ex-private Seattle, Washington, USA collection, acquired 1970-2000 via US and online auctions

SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).

PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.

Item # 204062

  • Condition: Both are intact and excellent with rich weathering films and earthen deposits to surface.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000