Ointmentary. Rome, 2nd-1st century BC.

Ointmentary. Rome, 2nd-1st century BC.
Transparent blown glass.
In excellent condition.
Provenance: private collection.
Certificate issued in 1971 is attached.
Measurements: 12 cm.
Simple ointment in which the long cylindrical neck can be clearly distinguished from the truncated conical body with a rounded base. The separation between the two parts was made by hot strangulation of the glass in order to avoid the sudden release of the expensive perfume or essence during the use of the piece. The presence of good iridescence and its perfect preservation lead us to consider it to be a female funerary trousseau.
The use of glass began to become widespread from the 1st century AD, following the discovery of the blowing technique around 40 BC, in the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast. This technique was a major revolution and spread rapidly. Blown glass offered great advantages over other materials because it did not change the taste of the food it contained and was more impermeable than terracotta. In addition, the blowing technique made it possible to produce pieces in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and also to produce them more quickly. On the other hand, glass pieces were easier to clean, so it soon became the favourite material for domestic use.