Unguentaria were amongst the most common objects of Roman blown glass: produced in large numbers, they were items of everyday use for keeping expensive perfumes and cosmetic oils. The small body and mouth were ideal for slow, careful pouring, while glass was preferred for holding liquids, due to its non-porous, non-absorbent nature. This ‘cotton reel’ style is typical of Romano-Egyptian examples during the 1st -2nd century AD. The thick walls and flared body created a durable container with relatively low capacity – well suited to carrying highly valuable liquids.
Unlike the majority of surviving glass from Ancient Rome which was made via glass-blowing, this piece is a striking example of cast-formed glassware. Casting (also known as moulding) is one of the oldest glass-making techniques, predated only by core-forming, and consists of pouring molten glass into a prepared mould. Once the glass has cooled, the mould is removed and the shape is finished by hand. Hellenistic techniques were borrowed to experiment in colour and style, alongside original Roman innovations such as mosaic designs. By the Augustan period, cast glassware was highly valued by the nobility as luxury goods.
To find out more about Roman glass, please see our relevant blog posts: Ancient Glass and Collecting Ancient Glass
