Circa 400 AD. A rare glass beaker with slighly spherical body which tapers towards the rim; the vessel has beautiful irridescence and is decorated with a series of caduceus possibly symbolising the staff of Mercury. Parallels: Kunina N. Ancient Glass in the Hermitage Collection. ARS Publishers, LTD, St. Petersburg, 1997, cat. 327; Hayes J. W. Roman and Pre-Roman Glass in the Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, 1975, cat. 180, 182; Matheson S. B. Ancient Glass in the Yale University Art Gallery. Yale University Art Gallery, 1980, cat. 248.Size: L:100mm / W:115mm ; 225gProvenance: Property of an Oxfordshire art professional; previously in an old British collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK / International art markets.