Description

Miniature black jar, Eastern Roman Empire, 4th - 5th century A.D. H 5.5cm / W 4.8cm Small, squat, hemispherical jar in green glass, black in appearance. The body is formed on the mandrel, the foot and handles are then applied to the body. Intact, a small chip on one handle, some iridescence inside. Peter Cosyns (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) proposes three variants for this form: with a ribbed body (IVD2:1), with applied glass thread decoration (IVD2:1), with pressed (stamped) decoration (IVD2:3). This artifact is unusual in that it has no decoration, but is fitted with a foot and two handles. P. Cosyns proposes a fourth variant, IVD2:4. Provenance: > Saeed Motamed collection > Christie's sale 7.10.011 > French private seller Parallel : > MFA Boston ACN: 50.2273 (ribbed, without foot)