{"product_id":"ancient-roman-glass-lentoid-flask-4th-6th-century-ce","title":"Ancient Roman Glass Lentoid Flask | Late Imperial–Early Byzantine | Circa 4th – 6th Century CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Roman World\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Free-blown pale blue-green glass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Late Imperial to Early Byzantine Period, circa 4th–6th Century CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis ancient Roman \u003c\/span\u003elentoid glass flask dates to approximately the 4th–6th century CE, spanning the Late Imperial to Early Byzantine period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFree-blown in pale blue-green glass, the vessel has a distinctive flattened circular, or lentoid, body, rising to a short cylindrical neck and terminating in a folded, slightly flared rim. Its compressed circular profile gives the vessel an elegant form characteristic of this class of Late Antique glass containers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surface exhibits naturally developed iridescence, brown burial encrustation, mineral deposits, and weathering resulting from prolonged archaeological burial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA visible crack and old repair are present at the neck\u003cspan\u003e, while a small area of loss is visible along the rim. Despite these age-related condition issues, the vessel retains its characteristic form and remains suitable for display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA comparable Roman lentoid bottle is held by \u003c\/span\u003eThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inventory no. 17.194.93.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlattened circular body\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShort cylindrical neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFolded, slightly flared rim\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePale blue-green translucent glass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNatural ancient iridescence\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrown burial encrustation and mineral deposits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOld repair and visible crack at the neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSmall loss to the rim\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eComparable form in The Metropolitan Museum of Art\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGlassblowing allowed Roman and Late Antique craftsmen to create lightweight vessels in a wide variety of specialized forms. Flattened or lentoid bottles were produced for holding relatively small quantities of liquids and other substances, although the exact original contents of this example cannot be determined without archaeological context.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts form belongs to the later development of Roman glass production and continued into the Early Byzantine period, demonstrating the longevity and adaptability of glassworking traditions across Late Antiquity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient archaeological condition with natural iridescence, brown burial encrustation, mineral deposits, and surface weathering throughout. A\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003evisible crack and old repair are present at the neck, together with a small loss at the rim\u003cspan\u003e. The flattened body remains substantially intact and retains its overall profile.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5.75 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1,400–1,700 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"11\" data-end=\"47\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2527\" data-end=\"2549\"\u003eOffered by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Thomaston, Maine, United States, on August 24, 2013, as Lot 487. Following the auction, the piece entered a private collection in Windsor, Connecticut, United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean material. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and is accredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Salvaggio identified the vessel as a Roman free-blown glass lentoid flask dating to the Late Imperial to Early Byzantine period, circa 4th–6th century CE, based on its flattened circular body, short cylindrical neck, folded slightly flared rim, pale blue-green glass, natural iridescence, and burial encrustation. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExamine a remarkably preserved Roman glass vessel at the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/abbeymuseum.com.au\/abbey-roman-flask-still-in-one-piece-after-2000-years\/\" title=\"Roman Flask Still Intact After 2,000 Years – Abbey Museum\"\u003eAbbey Museum\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/roman-greek-artifacts-ancient-relics\" title=\"Explore Roman \u0026amp; Greek Artifacts at Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Roman \u0026amp; Greek Artifacts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54018135195970,"sku":null,"price":900.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Roman-Glass-Flask-of-Flattened-Circular-Form-4098.png?v=1791234185","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/products\/ancient-roman-glass-lentoid-flask-4th-6th-century-ce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}