100-300 AD. Roman. Pale green glass unguentarium with folded, flaring rim, long, cylindrical neck and inverted conical body. The piece is now weathered with a patina common in ancient glass. Glass was a major manufacturing industry in the Roman Empire, especially after the invention of glassblowing in the middle of the first century BC, when glass became used for a variety of purposes including vessels, jewellery and construction materials such as glass or tiles. Roman glassmaking reached the farthest corners of the Empire and flourished until about 400 AD, when the Roman Empire started to disintegrate, finally falling in the late 5th century AD. Vessels would probably have been used for perfumes, oils (used as soap) and/or medicines in antiquity. Good condition; on a custom-made stand.Size: L:152mm / W:60mm ; 65g; Provenance: Property of an established London gallery; acquired from a private estate collection formed in the 1980s.