A pretty Roman Glass Bowl, Roman Imperial, 100 BCE - 100 CE

A rare and elegant example of Roman cast glassware, this bowl is formed from translucent blue-green glass with a slightly bluish hue, characteristic of natron-based silica compositions used in the early Roman Imperial period. The vessel is expertly fashioned in a hemispherical shape, a form favored for both its aesthetic simplicity and functional utility. The surface is enhanced by finely executed lathe-cut grooves; two beneath the rim and one encircling the lower body, which provide subtle visual structure and reflect the high level of skill involved in its finishing. These grooves not only accentuate the bowl’s clean geometry but also attest to the sophisticated tooling methods employed by Roman glassworkers of the late Republican to early Imperial era.

The glass exhibits gentle curvature and uniform wall thickness, with a rounded base that tapers slightly inward. The bowl was most likely created through a casting process followed by extensive cold working, rather than free-blown, making it an earlier and more labor-intensive example within the typology of Roman glass. Its restrained form and delicate tooling suggest it was intended as a luxury item, possibly used in domestic contexts for drinking or serving, or within ritual or funerary settings. 

Medium: Glass

Dimensions: Height: 2 3/4 inches (6.9 cm), Diameter: 3 1/4 inches (8.25 cm) 

Condition: The bowl remains intact and stable, with no modern restoration detected. The surface presents moderate iridescence, a silvery sheen resulting from prolonged burial, along with patches of weathering and soil deposits consistent with long-term interment in a dry environment. There is a single surface spall, approximately 1/4 inch in size, near the base, exposing the underlying clarity of the glass. Scattered inclusions, air bubbles, and light striations are present—natural byproducts of ancient glassmaking and cooling processes, which add to the object’s authenticity and character. Overall, it is well-preserved for its type and age, retaining strong visual appeal and historical integrity. 

Provenance: Ex. Royal Athena Galleries, New York; accompanied by a copy of original invoice #9603, dated June 2, 2003. Previously part of an English private collection, assembled prior to acquisition by Royal Athena.

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