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Antiquities - Roman |
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| Lot 434 |
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Early Roman Cast Glass Bowl. Roman, perhaps Italy, late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD. Diameter: 5-7/8". This simple bowl nearly hemispherical in shape, with pushed up base. Cast in a clear/pale green glass, the bowl exhibits "fire polish" on the exterior, and lapidary polishing on the inside. In addition three concentric circles have been deeply engraved within. Bowl intact and free of the usual age cracks. Interior iridescence ranges from silvery to wonderfully intense lime and emerald greens to splendid corals and deep oranges. Cf. Toledo, Ancient Glass, nos. 243-246 (Photo).
Estimate $400-650. |
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| Lot 435 |
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Superb Sidonian Amphoriskos in Violet. Roman Phoenica, 1st century AD. Mold blown from a two-piece form, the bottle with thin, shallow funnel mouth, broad neck, and ovoid body on small cylindrical foot. At neck, twin drawn handles in aubergine or brown-blue. Molded design on body comprised of central band of curling floral arabesques, flanked by paired line border, with fluting above and below. Intact and perfect, this delicate artifact in superb condition. Height: 2-3/4". A choice example of this ardently collected class of early blown bottles. Bid well or you'll miss this opportunity! Cf. Sammlung Oppenlander, nos. 413, 414; no. 412, an oinochoe, perhaps from the same mold (Photo).
Estimate $1,500-2,000. |
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| Lot 436 |
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Neatly Crafted "Sauce" Plate. Roman, 1st to 2nd century AD. Width: 8-3/4". Blown in a colorful yellow-green glass, this footed plate has a rolled rim that has been folded to form an angled wall around the plate. The plate's interior has a cup-like center. Intact and perfect. With transparent and subtle, to more vivid iridescence in greens, violets, reds, limes, and magenta. Although light, the dish has been innovatively and ruggedly made. This dish is formed to drain sauces or juices to the central reservoir. Choice and crack free. Cf. Sotheby's Constable-Maxwell Collection, lot no. 64 (Photo).
Estimate $750-1,000. |
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| Lot 437 |
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Interesting Cylinder Bottle. Roman, 1st to 2nd Century AD. Height: 6". Blown from a pale green glass, this bottle has a broad, flat rolled down rim, short cylinder neck, and cylinder body with fairly straight vertical sides and sharply rounded shoulders. The bottom is slightly indented. Intact and perfect, with beautiful bright metallic to transparent iridescescence of light and dark green, copper, gold, silver and deep blue-green. Cf. Newark, figs. 443, 444 (Photo).
Estimate $500-600. |
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| Lot 438 |
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An Attractive, Large Unguentarium. Roman, c. 1st to 2nd century AD. Height: 7-1/8". Of typical form, with long tapering neck, a little constricted at its base, a small flattened ovate body, and with rounded mouth, this bottle is blown in a medium green glass. Intact and perfect, with excellent silvery iridescence within, the bottle reflecting the colors predominantly in the cool greens and violets, and the occasional cobalt. A very fine example of this type (Photo).
Estimate $500-750. |
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| Lot 439 |
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Lot of Two Iridescent Unguentaria. Roman, c. 1st - 2nd century AD. Heights: 5-1/4"; 7". The two delicate long-necked bottles blown from green and pale green glass. Both with similar features of flared mouth, tubular necks constricted at the bottom, and conical bodies with concave bases. The smaller's body more bell-shaped than the other. The small bottle with areas of generally thin iridescence, but occasional vivid patches. The larger has mostly opaquish silver-white iridescence with zones of vivid violet and cerulean. Both intact and perfect (Photo).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 440 |
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Handsome Mold Blown Flask in Amber Glass. Roman, c. 1st to 2nd century AD. Height: 5-1/2". Bottle with conical/piriform body with deeply indented base, somewhat pinched tubular neck, and lightly everted, rounded rim. Body with molded vertical ribbing. Intact and perfect, with transparent areas of iridescence, inside and out. The brown color makes for very warm golds and greens, where the silvers and violets stand out in remarkable contrast. Recommended! (Photo).
Estimate $600-800. |
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| Lot 441 |
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Handsome Mold Blown Flask in Amber Glass, Again! Roman, c. 1st to 2nd century AD. Height: 5-1/2". This a mate to the previous amber flask, and all remarks pertain. The only difference is that the vertical ribbing here now has a slight spiral twist. Also there are some age cracks, but the bottle appears to be sound and stable. Attractive shape, and a less common color for the period (Photo).
Estimate $450-600. |
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| Lot 442 |
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Lot of Two Colorful Small Bottles. Roman, c. 1st - 2nd century AD. Heights: 5-1/4"; 7". The two classic Roman bottles blown from light green glass. Both with similar features of tubular necks, one slightly constricted at the bottom, and globular or ovate bodies with concave bases. The small bottle with patches of white-lilac iridescence, balanced by areas of vivid transparent violets, greens, and blues. The larger has transparent iridescence tending to the golds, green, magentas, with some indigo accents. Both intact and perfect. Very nice display objects (Photo).
Estimate $200-400. |
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| Lot 443 |
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Two Beautiful Minature Jars, in Yellow Glass. Roman, 1st to 3rd century AD. Heights: 2-1/4'; 2-5/8". 1. The earliest of this pair is a "cosmetic cup" delicately blown with a wide funnel mouth set atop an inverted conical body that has rounded shoulders and a pinched waist. With a flat base. Intact and perfect, with a lovely opaquish silver-gold color that tends to greens and reds. 2. The second piece is a minature sprinkler flask with a shallow funnel mouth and cylinder neck that taperes to a constricting groove at the body junction. The squat tear or drop-shaped body sits atop a slightly raised foot. The bottle is robust and perfect with a green-brown internal patina and slight hints of iridescence. A delightful pair! Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, pl. 67, for first; Smith, figs. 313, 314, 315, for second, also Opplander no. 578, with original bronze handle intact (Photo).
Estimate $350-550. |
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| Lot 444 |
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Globular Bottle with Pinched Ornament. Roman Syria, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 4-3/8". Another bottle utilizing pinched decoration. Blown in light green glass, the bottle with globular body having indented base, a short almost cylindrical neck, and thick, flat everted rim. Bottle intact and perfect, having a whitish internal patina, which displays an occasional hint of iridescence. Cf. Sammlung Oppenlander, no. 714. A handsome decorative type (Photo).
Estimate $700-900. |
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| Lot 445 |
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Sprinkler Flask with Pinched Ornament. Roman Eastern Mediterranean, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 4-1/2". Blown in green glass, the bottle with conical body, funnel mouth, and internal diaphragm at the throat. Along the lower body are two rows of pinched spikey protuberances, giving the bottle a sort of vegetal appearance. Intact and perfect, with internal grayish patina, and occasional hints of iridescence. Cf. Sammlung Oppenlander, no. 690, a bottle; but note a footed version, no. 713, also a sprinkler. A less common sprinkler type (Photo).
Estimate $650-800. |
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| Lot 446 |
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Large, Important Wheel-cut Flask. Roman, c. 2nd to 3rd century A.D. This a grand-sized version in aqua-green glass of the basic bottle/ungentarium shape: cylinder neck atop piriform body, the mouth folded and throated, with rim slightly everted. At regular intervals on neck and body, three broad cut grooves encircle the vessel, these flanked by two narrower sharper grooves. Fabulously preserved for a glass object this size, and without any of the usual age cracks seen on large heavy glass. Some minor, cleanble black crust, overall with fine transparent iridescence favoring greens and magentas, and muted coppers. Height: 12-1.8". A museum piece, not to be missed! Cf. Sammlung Opplander no. 508 (Photo).
Estimate $2,500-3,500. |
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| Lot 447 |
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Beaker with Wheel-Cut Decoration. Roman, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 3-3/4". Robust,of thick green glass, the cup of tapering cylindrical form, with thick weighted base. The rim knife cut when blown, and slightly inward curving. At four regular intervals, encircling bands were cut on the exterior using a lapidary wheel. Intact and perfect, with variegated opaque silvery and colorful transparent iridescence, interspersed among a gay patina. Pleasant, and a rugged display object (Photo).
Estimate $450-550. |
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| Lot 448 |
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Triple Handled Cup or Lamp. Roman, 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 2-3/8". This funnel-shaped vessel is crafted in glass of light green color with three dark blue, opaque glass handles equally spaced around the sides. The tapered vessel has a wide mouth with a rolled rim and a folded ring foot. Faint green, blue, silver and purple iridescence appear on the cup and mottled purple, silver, green and black iridescence accent the handles. The cup is intact and choice; the handles are either reattached or are restorations. Cf. Newark, fig. 197 (Photo).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 449 |
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Finely Iridescent "Amhoriskos." Roman, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 4-1/2". The vessel of tapering conical form, with sharply angled shoulders, short neck, flat everted mouth with rolled rim, and slightly indented base. Blown from light green glass, bottle intact and perfect. Part of one side with crusty patina (from water deposits?), and the other with silvery iridescence supporting a colorful range of bright golds, greens, cobalts, and magentas. A fine piece - the shape classic, and the iridescence eye catching! (Photo).
Estimate $450-650. |
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| Lot 450 |
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A Choice, Subtly Iridescent "Grape" Flask. Roman, likely Syria, c. 2nd - 3rd century AD. Height: 5". Very robust, this bottle is thickly blown from a light green glass. The funnel is mouth rather broad and deep, and the tapered neck is folded down to create a decorative ring around the shoulders. Details to the body are sharp, from the numerous globules comprising the "grapes," to the two small triangular leaves, not to mention the seam of the two-piece mold. Intact and perfect, with transparent to nearly opaque silvery iridescence, having hints of blues and violets. Rare and important. Cf. Sammlung Oppenlander, no. 470, an earlier version (Photo).
Estimate $1,250-1,750. |
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| Lot 451 |
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An Extraordinary Bottle. Roman, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 10-1/4". This bottle is an unusual variant to the typical unguentarium. While the globular body and long tapering neck are normal. The size, coupled with the rounded funnel mouth with trailed threading, set this apart from the norm. Blown in aqua glass, the bottle is intact and perfect! Its remarkable preservation is further enhanced with zones of vivid multi-colored iridescence. A highly fortunate survival from antiquity, it is worthy of any advanced glass collection (Photo).
Estimate $1,250-1,500. |
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| Lot 452 |
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Large "Pilgrim's Flask" with Impressive Iridescence. Roman, c. 2nd - 3rd century AD. Height: 8". Blown in a pale green glass, the typical globular-bodied unguentarium is modified so that its body is flattened to resemble a moderately thick disk. The neck remains tubular, slightly constricted at the base, and the rim is missing. This distinctive glass form is enhanced with a lovely silver-creme iridescence with bold splashes of wonderful blue, green and cobalt coloring. Some age cracks on both sides of body, but flask appears stable and sound. Comes with custom display stand. Cf. Newark, no. 456. A choice cabinet piece (Photo).
Estimate $650-850. |
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| Lot 453 |
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Handled Ewer in Green Glass. Roman, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 6-3/8". Blown from light green glass, the graceful vessel with elongated piriform or drop-shaped body atop integral folded foot, along with funnel mouth with rolled rim. An added single handle of trailed glass, and decorative ring at the neck are of similar but slightly darker green glass. Pitcher intact and perfect. Over areas of the body, a translucent, somewhat matte iridescence/patina, tending to the mauves, lavenders and soft greens. A stylish piece, that would enhance any collector's holdings (Photo).
Estimate $800-1,000. |
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| Lot 454 |
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An Impressive Large Pitcher in Green Glass. Roman, 2nd-3rd century AD. The pitcher free blown, with the body of broad, swelling drop shape, which rests on high foot created by folding the base inward. The vessel's neck fairly narrow while the mouth, wide and funnel-like, has been folded to form a narrow channel. Attached at the back, a wide combed handle in the same color glass -- this with folded thumbrest. There are decorative trailed rings at the neck and below the rim. Modest repair to a small part of the vessel's shoulder, otherwise this large piece is superb, with magnificent iridescence -- ranging from silvery to green, with subtle blues, magentas, and violets. Height: 8-3/4". The vessel robust, lovely, and remarkably preserved for its size -- thus rare! (Photo).
Estimate $4,000-6,500.
Provenance: Cf. Hermitage Coll., no. 272. |
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| Lot 455 |
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Square-bodied Jug in Green. Roman, c. 2nd century AD. Height: 4-3/4". Blown jug in light green glass, this jug features a short cylinder neck and thick flattened rim. The rectangular body is likely mold-blown to an even, square profile -- although the corners are rounded and the straight walls are a bit concave. A ridged, trailed handle is attched at one side. One lower corner has been restored to match the bottle's crusty, earthen patina. Walls, neck and handle show areas of sometimes vivid green, violet, red, lime, and indigo iridescence. Square-sided bottles remain a less common form in ancient glass. Cf. Wolkenburg Collection, Christies' London, 7/9/91, lot 71a (Photo).
Estimate $450-650. |
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| Lot 456 |
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Large Rectangular Jug. Rome, 2nd to 3rd Century AD. Height: 8-1/8". Robustly made in heavy green glass, this piece features a flattened disc-like mouth with a rolled lip, and a broad cylinder neck atop rectangular body of square section. With slightly rounded shoulders and a concave base. A wide flat handle rises vertically from the shoulder to the neck. Chipping to an air bubble in the handle. Otherwise the bottle is finely preserved. With beautiful transparent to opaque purple and green iridescence. Cf. Newark, fig. 128 (Photo).
Estimate $500-650. |
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| Lot 457 |
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Unsual Bag-like Beaker or Jar. Roman, c. 2nd to 4th century AD. Height: 3-5/8". Delicately formed from a clear or pale green glass, this bottle is crafted with a short funnel mouth that has an outwardly rolled rim, and a wide piriform body which has been deeply indented on the sides to form a square. The piece sits atop a folded thick ring foot. Neatly trailed glass threads appear at the neck. The bottle is intact and perfect. Very clean but for the inner surface on one side. With fine blue, green, silver and purple iridescence. Choice, unusual shape. Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, pl. 69a; Newark, figs. 109, 373, 374 (Photo).
Estimate $400-650. |
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| Lot 458 |
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Lot of Three Flasks. Roman, c. 2nd - 5th century AD. Heights: 2-1/4" - 6". Earliest a medium-size bottle, with inward rolled rim, and piriform body with indented base. Also a second miniature version of the first, but body wider and more flattened. Lastly, another medium-size flask of later date, with rimless funnel mouth/neck on sharply ovate body, also with indented base. All blown from green glass. All with pleasant thin to opaque silvery iridescence, with varying nuances of greens, violets and magentas, mostly subdued. The first bottle with minor age crack on base, which is stable and seemingly solid; the second repaired at body; the third a more robust bottle and seemingly free of any problems. A good value priced lot (Photo).
Estimate $400-600. |
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| Lot 459 |
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A Fine, Iridescent Little Pitcher. Roman, 3rd - 4th century AD. Height: 3-1/8". Blown in green glass, the large funnel mouth has been folded to form a triangular spout, with single trailed handle at the back. The walls of the small ovate body have been pinched six times making it almost hexagonal. A seam folded into the glass on its base almost has the appearance of a crack, but glass is sound and stable. Otherwise, only defect of note is an air bubble that has flaked away near the handle, leaving a small hole. Bottle covered with translucent silver-white iridescence with touches of subtle coloring. Attractive, and a less common type (Photo).
Estimate $350-450. |
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| Lot 460 |
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Finely Iridescent Flagon. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 3-5/8". Blown in pale green glass, this bottle has a funnel mouth with a flared and folded rim, a narrow neck, and sloping shoulders upon its cylindrical body. A heavy trailed ring of glass has been applied under the rim. A narrow ridged and folded handle appears at one side. Intact and very fine. The age-etched surfaces with delightful iridescence in mellow and warm hues of red, gold, and rose, with accents of violet and green. Cf. Hayes, ROM, no. 425 (Photo).
Estimate $400-500. |
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| Lot 461 |
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Light Green Bottle of Graceful Profile. Roman, c. 3rd AD. Height: 7-3/8". Body of elegant narrow piriform shape, with partly collared mouth, slightly constricted neck, all atop integral folded foot. On either side a decorative strip of pinched glass culminating in two circular handles. Aside from a modest, stable age crack, and repairs to handles, vessel finely preserved. Note an earlier version, 1st century, in Sammlung Oppenlander, no. 539. A rare type! (Photo).
Estimate $750-950. |
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| Lot 462 |
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Sprinkler Flask with Violet Iridescence. Roman, perhaps Syrian, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 3-3/4". Blown in light yellow glass, this bottle has a shallow funnel mouth with an inward folded rim, short cylinder neck, spherical body, and an indented base. The body is tooled with decorative slanting and parallel lines which encircle it. With blue, green, gold, and a particularly fine violet iridescence. A few modest age cracks on one side which appear to be stabilized. Otherwise, finely preserved. Said to be found in Palestine. Cf. Hans Cohn Collection, fig. 67; Sammlung Oppenlander no. 495 (Photo).
Estimate $300-400. |
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| Lot 463 |
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A Solid and Unusual Sprinkler Flask. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 3-3/8". Robustly made of thick green glass, the flask shaped as a twin-handled jar with globular body and indented base, a short cylindrical neck with wide flattened mouth, and two trailed and folded handles at the sides. Within the neck the unusual restricting diaphragm of this class of bottle. Intact and perfect with patchy to "etched" iridescence over much of its surfaces. The crusty iridescence tends to the silvery, with sometimes intense cobalt, while the etched surfaces create a subtle map of blues, greens, magentas, and an occasional hint of gold. An excellent artifact, bespeaking alike man made antiquity and the transforming qualities of time and nature. Handled sprinklers appear to be rare (Photo).
Estimate $600-800. |
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| Lot 464 |
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A Flashy Twin-Handled Unguentarium. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4". Again blown from thick glass, this rugged little piece with flaring mouth and narrow piriform body, atop sturdy folded foot. The handles neatly made of the same color glass. The body with mold blown ribbing, spirally twisted as added ornament. Intact and perfect, with translucent to opaque silvery iridescence under cleanable black crust. A symmetrical and pleasing example of its type (Photo).
Estimate $550-750. |
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| Lot 465 |
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Another Twin-Handled Unguentarium with Trailed Ornament. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-3/4". Another example similar to previous lot, but larger and with trailed glass decoration rather than mold blown. Also of light green glass, this with larger handles of the same color, while the thin trailings are in dark green. Some minor repair at neck beneath handles, and as usual, some of the thin trailings are absent, but overall in excellent condition, with vivid, brilliant iridescence under the areas of blackish patina (Photo).
Estimate $450-650. |
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| Lot 466 |
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Glass-Wrapped Footed Balsamarium. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-1/2". A richly textured version of the usual twin-handled tubular vessel with folded integral foot. In a thick green glass, the piece is solid and heavy, with thickly rimmed mouth, and the whole body encircled with spirally trailed glass of the same color. Intact and pristine, with remains of easily cleanable dirt. Choice and scarce. Cf. Ede, Collecting Antiquities, fig. 308-c, for a closely similar example (Photo).
Estimate $600-800. |
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| Lot 467 |
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Colorful Juglet. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-5/8". Recomposed from two different pieces, this juglet's upper half is a faintly green-tinged yellow glass. The narrow neck, wide funnel mouth, handle and ornamental rings are in a trailed dark aqua color. The flattened ovoid body is also yellow glass but of somewhat lighter color. The lower body appears in a fine and colorful thick silver-gray-green iridescence, with vivid surrounds of magenta, green and lime color. Similar iridescence has been added as restoration to the juncture of the two bottles. Although a pastiche, the shape is reasonably accurate, and the juglet has undoubted eye appeal (Photo).
Estimate $200-300. |
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| Lot 468 |
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Single-Handled Juglet in Light Green Glass. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-7/8". Blown with a globular body and indented base, a cylindrical neck with shallow everted/funnel mouth, the bottle has been folded at the shoulders to created a thick encircling ring. At backside, a single trailed and folded handle. Intact, with a modest age crack at base of handle -- but handle intact, solid and stable. Iridescence ranges from a somewhat matte iridescence/patina, tending to the mauves, lavenders and soft greens at the lower body, to a more "etched" and vibrant silver and multi-colored at the neck and mouth (Photo).
Estimate $850-1,000. |
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| Lot 469 |
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Robust Single-Handled Juglet with Silvery Iridescence. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-1/2". Blown from fairly thick green glass, with an almost bell-shaped body (slightly angled vertical walls and strongly rounded shoulders) and indented base, a tapering cylindrical neck, and a shallow funnel mouth with folded collar beneath rim. At the back, a single trailed, folded, and rimmed handle, plus a decorative ring midway along the neck. Intact, with a well hidden repair to the base of the neck. Much of bottle covered with thick silver-creme iridescence/patina, displaying pearl-like soft mauves, lavenders and greens. Where patina absent, a sometimes vivid violet, copper, and rose evident. A solidly made little bottle. Much clotted dirt remains within the juglet (Photo).
Estimate $500-600. |
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| Lot 470 |
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Single-Handled Juglet in Light Green Glass. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-7/8". Blown with a cylindrical body, rounded shoulders, and indented base, plus a cylindrical neck with broad funnel mouth. At backside, a single trailed and combed wide handle, plus a decorative ring encircling the mouth lower down. An area of expert repair and restoration at the upper neck, otherwise juglet intact and sound. Iridescence is a densely speckled, somewhat matte creme color, with occasional brilliant colors peeking out along the edges. The intense multi-colored iridescence at the neck and mouth is especially noteworthy -- with vivid metallic limes and coppers. Cf. Newark, fig. 132 (Photo).
Estimate $750-950. |
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| Lot 471 |
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Large Carafe in Aqua. Roman Syria, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 9-1/4". This heavy and substantial piece is formed in aqua glass. The bottle, with a funnel mouth that is faintly cupped, sits atop a conical body with rounded shoulders and base, and indented bottom. A heavy trailed ring of glass appears at the throat, to which are attached two combed and folded handles. A little loss to the top of one handle. Otherwise the bottle is very well preserved. With transparent to intense mottled purple-green and gold iridescence (Photo).
Estimate $1,250-1,650. |
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| Lot 472 |
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Large Carafe. Roman, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 11-1/2". Blown in thick, faintly olive-tinged green glass, this robust bottle has a short funnel mouth and flaring neck set atop a flattened, ovoid body. Intact and perfect without any of the usual cracks seen on these larger pieces. With patches of opaque, but mostly transparent slivery-blue, and green to purple iridescence, some of which is quite vivid and mostly on one side. Monumental! It is difficult to find ancient glass much larger than this (Photo).
Estimate $1,500-2,500. |
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| Lot 473 |
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A Stunning, Ornately Handled Balsamarium. Roman, 3rd - 5th century AD. Height: 6-5/8". Very robust, this vessel has been fashioned from a tube of thick green glass with rolled rims at either end, and then folded over at the center and heat joined. Folded trailings of thick, slightly darker glass project outwards at four sides, finishing with a strap-like bail handle at the top. Complete and perfect, with thick, opaque silvery iridescence, having lovely hints of blues, violets, greens, and the occasional indigo. Exceptional, and rare in this state of preservation (Photo).
Estimate $1,500-2,250. |
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| Lot 474 |
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A Monumental Double-Balsamarium. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 9". Robustly made from a thick, rimmed tube folded over and heat joined, with large looping tiers of handles added. Aside from the usual discreet repairs to the handle, piece finely preserved. Looking at the dripping sculpture of the handles, one can easily appreciate the fact that glass occupies a place between a solid and a liquid. Holding and regarding this piece, one is brought to mind of some utilitarian object made of icicles! Rare this nice, and worth serious bidding consideration.
Estimate $2,000-2,500. |
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| Lot 475 |
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A Colorful Bale-Handled Balsamarium. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 6-1/2". A smaller, but no less solidly made example of the previous balsamarium, this in light green glass for the body and handle, while the decorative trailing threads around the body are in purplish aubergine-colored glass. Three discreet repairs to the bale, plus a small section of the side handle is missing, aside from these the preservation is choice. Over much of the piece is a variegated iridescence, ranging from matte and transparent, to opaque silvery, with areas flashing vivid violets and cobalts, along with subtle limes. An eye catching object (Photo).
Estimate $950-1,250. |
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| Lot 476 |
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A Rare Twin-Handled Balsamarium in Aubergine. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 6". Another heavy-bodied tube folded like previous lot, but this in the much rarer for this series violet-colored glass. The tubes forming the body of unequal width. Glass trailings form the two small handles, along with encircling bands along the upper half of the body. Discreet repair to one handle, otherwise item is well preserved with blackish peelable skin, which when removed reveals wonderfully vivid iridescence underneath. The deep red-violet of the glass serves as an ideal backdrop for the metallic reds, coppers, greens, and cobalts -- ranging from bright and flashy, to the subtle. Another piece worthy of serious consideration (Photo).
Estimate $950-1,250. |
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| Lot 477 |
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A Colorful Trailed glass Amphoriskos. Roman Syria, c. 4th - 5th century AD. Height: 5". The bottle is blown from a light green glass, and has a slightly tapered cylindrical neck, ovate body, and folded splayed foot. In a dark aqua glass, decorative trailings zigzag and encircle the neck, and form the folded twin handles. Aside from a little cleanable dirt within, the bottle intact and pristine. Scarce and decorative, this bottle would make a flashy addition to any glass collection (Photo).
Estimate $950-1,250. |
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| Lot 478 |
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Fine Jar with Trailed Threading. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height 3-1/8". A robust jar of light green, almost leaf green glass, with globular body, having a deeply indented base, and the wide funnel mouth folded downwards to create an encircling collar. Added trailing threads are a dark green-aqua, along with a heavier pattern of zigzags beneath. Jar perfect and pristine, with cleanable dirt (if the new owner is so inclined). An excellent, decorative example of its class (Photo).
Estimate $800-950. |
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| Lot 479 |
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Simple but Elegant Bottle. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 6". The vessel of simple form, with tapering funnel neck on ovate body with indented base, blown in pale green glass. Enlivening the bottle are two trailed bands of deep bright green. Bottle intact and perfect, with residue of thin earthen patina. A very fine bottle of the late Empire (Photo).
Estimate $475-675. |
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| Lot 480 |
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A Remarkable Bottle. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 5". The vessel also of simple form, with tapering funnel neck on high ovate body with indented base, blown in pale aqua-green glass. At the bottle's shoulder, an inward fold was created and then sealed and smoothed, creating two reflective, jewel-like bands of aqua. Even more unusual is the use of opaque red for the trailed ornament at the mouth and neck. A small, narrow section of the rim broken and re-attached, otherwise bottle pristine and perfect. Although simple in appearance, this object would surely have been a luxury item in its time. Rare and choice! (Photo).
Estimate $750-950. |
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| Lot 481 |
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Large Late Empire Flask. Roman, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 7". This bottle is heavy and substantial in light green glass. The vessel is mold blown with a long, rimless funnel mouth on its sharply ovate body. The walls show faint vertical ribbing. Intact and perfect, with thin to transparent silvery to speckled green, purple, copper, blue iridescence, mostly on one side. Stylish and impressive, this flask would well grace anyone's collection. Cf. Newark, no. 438 (Photo).
Estimate $500-750. |
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| Lot 482 |
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A Most Unusual Two-Tiered Bottle. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 3-3/4". An unusual variant on the bottles with the folded throat technique of the period. Blown from thick green glass, this robust piece with ovate body with indented base. The funnel mouth only partially folded, creating the appearance of a second ovate vessel attached at the top. At regular interval, three handles are attached to the rim, throat, and body. One handle is fragmentary, and it is apparent that it was never properly sealed to the body in antiquity, since there remains no visible evidence if it having been there. Aside from this, the bottle is intact and perfect, and is coated with splendid iridescence. Where opaque the color runs to silvery greens and lavender; where translucent, variegated greens predominate. Most unusual and rare. With its kind of gourd-like appearance, and the lustrous iridescence, this bottle almost looks like "proto-Louis Comfort Tiffany." (Photo).
Estimate $1,000-1,500. |
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| Lot 483 |
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Remarkable "Baby Feeder" or Pitcher. Eastern Mediterranean, c. 4th to 6th century AD. Height: 5-3/4". Blown from thick deep leaf green-colored glass, the vessel with broad funnel mouth on narrow neck, atop an flattened ovate body. A single trailed handle at the back attaches in two places, and the short spout with "fire polished" (i.e. smooth and rounded) edges to its rim. Additional ornament of thin trailed glass ribbon wraps about the exterior of the mouth. Intact and pristine, with only slight dirt residues. This a splendid and exotic example of the glassmaker's art (Photo).
Estimate $950-1,250. |
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| Lot 484 |
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Interesting Dropper Cup, Finely Iridescent. Islamic, probably Syria, c. 7th to 10th century AD. Height: 1-3/4". Blown from thick, leaf green glass, this small utensil is beaker-like with a rounded base and elongated spout on one side. The spout's tip is slightly chipped. Otherwise the glass is well preserved with colorful silver-violet to blue, green, gold and red iridescence. A choice and scarce little object. Some have termed these "baby feeders," but likely these served a function in the distillation of medicinal or chemistry concoctions in the then technologically-advanced world of Islam (Photo).
Estimate $300-400. |
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| Lot 485 |
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Islamic "Pitcher." Persia or Egypt, c. 8th to 10th century AD. Height: 4-5/8". Pastiche vessel consisting of the upper half a colorful pitcher in blue. The bottom has been "restored" with the base of a green vessel that features swirls of vivid, metallic iridescence in violets, blues, coppers, and bronze. A different, eye catching decorator piece (Photo).
Estimate $300-400.
Provenance: Ex Ainley Collection; Malter XXXVIII, lot 84. |
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| Lot 486 |
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"Pitcher" with Vivid Iridescence. Persia, c. 8th to 12th century AD. Height: 4-1/4". This pastiche vessel is composed of pieces from from five or six vessels. Crafted in very thick glass the piece ranges in color from aqua to azure, to deep emerald green. With areas of exceptionally fine and intense iridescence. A colorful decorator piece (Photo).
Estimate $300-400.
Provenance: Ex Ainley Collection; Malter XXXVIII, lot 85. |
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| Lot 487 |
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Islamic "Vase." Persia, c. 11th to 12 century AD. Height: 3-7/8". Pastiche. The neck and shoulders of an ornate bottle in heavy green glass has been married to the faceted base of a vessel in deep blue. The upper part has a marvelous, jewel-like iridescence in violets, blues, coppers, and reds. A nifty little decorator piece, and a wistful rembrance of what it could have been (Photo).
Estimate $250-350.
Provenance: Ex Ainley Collection; Malter XXXVIII, lot 89. |
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| Lot 488 |
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Grooved Hammer/Axe Head in Serpentinite. Amerind(?), c. 500 AD. This hefty tool roughly conical-shaped in profile, and oval in section. At lower third of length, a deep groove for hafting encircles the stone for about three-quarters of its perimeter. Tool overall in fine condition, with usual occasional blemish due to normal use. A spot of calcerous patina on one side; the stone overall a variegated dark gray-green. Length: 5-1/4" (Photo).
Estimate $300-400. |
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