The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 4712
Large Cup or Stein. Roman
Asia Minor, late 1st to 3rd century AD. Height: 4-7/8"; Width: 6-3/4".
Nicely crafted in aqua blue glass, this remarkably large cup has an out-flared
rim and an over folded and rolled throat atop its wide cylinder body. The
vertical sides merge into a rounded bottom which rests on a thick, rolled, ring
foot. In the same glass, a wide, channel-like trailing forms a ring handle at
one side. Two areas of crude repairs appear on cracks at the sides. Otherwise
the glass is fresh looking with some earthen patina and areas of transparent
iridescence having mottlings of green, blue and purple. Unusual to see a
single-handled "cup" of this size -- perhaps this an ancient Roman's chamber
pot! Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, fig. 128z.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 4713
Unusual Single-handled
Cup. Roman, 1st to 2nd Century AD. Height: 2-5/8". Blown in clear glass,
this "cup" appears like a balsamarium jar in shape. With a wide, flared mouth,
flattened ovoid body and folded ring base. A trailed decorative ring (in glass)
decorates the neck, while a handle (also in clear glass) has been applied at
the side. Intact and choice. With a lovely transparent iridescence in bright to
pastel greens and reds. Cf. G.A.E. Vol 1, fig. 261.
Estimated Value
$300-450.
Lot 4714
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.
Estimated
Value $500-600.
Lot 4715
Interesting Bird Form
Bottle. Roman, 1st to 2nd Century AD. Height: 3-1/4". An unusual "novelty"
bottle in avial form, this creative piece features a broad cylindrical neck
with a flattened, outrolled rim. Its oblong, ovate body projects a "tail"
extending out from the bottom side of flask. The bottom is flat. Blown from
aqua-green glass, the vessel displays pleasing green, red, violet, and silver
to copper iridescence. As is typically found, the tip of the tail is chipped,
but the tail likely served as a dropper spout anyway. Otherwise the vessel
choice. Rare! Cf. Sammlung Opplander no. 574, but with trefoil mouth; A.G. pl.
62 (Palestine 3rd century AD).
Estimated Value $600-900.
Lot 4716
Conical Bottle with Fine
Iridescence. Roman, 1st to 2nd century AD. Height: 6-3/4". Simple, but
finely proportioned and elegant, this flask has a modest funnel mouth with a
carinated, rolled lip. The cylindrical neck flares into its narrow, conical
body. Blown from clear or faintly yellow glass, the interior displays zoned
iridescence in beautiful yellow, greens, purples, and blues, ranging from
subdued and shimmering to brightly metallic. Intact and perfect. A delightful
gem! Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, fig. 66f.
Estimated Value $500-700.
Lot 4717
Choice Green Unguentarium.
Roman, 1st to 2nd century AD. Height: 4-3/4". Blown in a very thick green
glass, this robust bottle has a rolled flange-like rim, a straight cylinder
neck and a wide-flared, piriform body. Intact and perfect, with speckled
glitter-like iridescence to superb shimmering blues, greens, lime, rust and
coppery pink. Wonderfully colorful, without being strident. Cf. Daramki find,
grave of the Wa'r Abu Es Safa, near Jerusalem (but perhaps of Syrian origin.).
Cf. G.A.E. Vol. XII, pl. 89.
Estimated Value $400-550.
Lot 4718
Iridescent Beaker or Jar.
Roman, c. 1st to 2nd century AD. Height: 2-1/2".Robust and with some heft,
the cup offered here is blown in light green glass and features a short flaring
rim and a sharply angled conical body set on a stepped, convex bottom. On the
exterior, paired decorative grooves have been lightly engraved and encircle the
lower part of body. A trivial ancient nick appears at the rim, otherwise the
cup is intact and perfect. Iridescence is diffuse to sparkling, mainly in
silver, cremes, and rose, with additional deeper green, blue and purple hues. A
stylish shape. Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, pl. 65q; Hans Cohn Collection, fig. 120.
Estimated Value $300-450.
Lot 4719
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.
Estimated Value $350-550.
Lot 4720
A Very Fine Patella Cup,
in Finely Colored Green Glass. Roman, 1st to 3rd Century AD. Height:
2-3/8". This footed, beaker-like cup is robustly made with a wide mouth and a
broad, folded lip that forms a flaring collar around the piece. The collar has
two shallow, heat-tooled grooves encircling its circumference. The wide foot is
convex. Intact and superbly preserved with a faint, transparent green
iridescence. Cf. Newark fig. 98. A scarce and fine, late example of this
earlier shape.
Estimated Value $300-500.
Lot 4721
Two Attractive Aryballoi.
Roman, later 1st to 3rd century AD. Heights: 2-3/8"; 2-5/8". A fine lot of
2. The first piece is thickly blown in leaf green glass, the other is more
delicate in light green. Both bottles are of a similar shape -- with sharply
everted mouths, loop handles that stretch from the collar to shoulder, and
broad ovate bodies. The heavier bottle has a handle in lime green and a more
flattend body. While the second bottle has a flared, folded mouth. Both are
intact and perfect. The first with yellowish silver-gray-green iridescence; the
other green bottle with light, cleanable earthen paitna. G.A.W. p. 212; G.A.E.
Vol. 1, figs. 74, 335; Glass Museum Haarets, Tel Aviv, Photo #9; Newark, figs.
429 430.
Estimated Value $350-500.
Lot 4722
A Choice Iridescent
Janiform Head Vase. Roman, possibly Syrian, c. 2nd century AD. Height:
3-1/8". Mold blown in in deep lime or leaf green glass, this bottle has a
shallow funnel mouth and a usual cylinder neck. The body is in the form of two
youthful male heads abutting, back to back. Perhaps the portrait is meant to
represent Bacchus with hair in the form of globules that resemble a grape
cluster. Intact and perfect, the jar is partly covered with cleanable black
crust. The revealed side features a lovely, delicately transparent blue-green
to cobalt-violet iridescence. Scarce, and always avidly sought out by
collectors, be prepared to bid well for this one! Cf. Sammling Oppenlander no.
465, perhaps same workshop.
Estimated Value $1,250-UP.
Lot 4723
A Choice and Important
"Grape" Flask, Subtly Iridescent. Roman, likely Syria, c. 2nd to 3rd century.
Height: 5". Thickly blown ina more yellow than green glass, this bottle is
robust. The shallow funnel mouth has a heavey rolled rim and the long cylinder
neck is folded to create a platform-like shoulder to the body. The body is
sharply molded with rows of globules as well as two small triangular leaves at
the top. At the base is a slighlty raised foot. Exterior shows a light and
delicate rose-silver iridescence, which, where flaked off, a shimmering
multi-hued silver color glimmers throughout. Intact and perfect. Rare and
important! Cf. Sammlung Oppenlander, no. 470, an earlier version.
Estimated
Value $1,000-UP.
Lot 4724
Handsome Large Bottle in
Yellow Glass. Roman. possibly Syria, 2nd Century AD. Height: 7". Blown from
yellow glass with a faintly greenish tinge, this robust vessel has a folded,
throated, and everted rim, a cylinder neck and a sharply ovoid body. Lightly
engraved on the body are three pairs of encircling grooves. Intact and perfect.
With slight areas of iridescence. An appealing larger vessel. Cf. G.A.E. Vol.
1, fig. 183.
Estimated Value $500-750.
Lot 4725
Small Square-sided Jug.
Roman, c. 2nd century AD. Height: 4-3/4". In light green glass, this jug
has a flared, thinly rolled rim and a cylinder neck on its rounded, near
cube-shaped body. Walls are perhaps mold-blown, as each appears to have a very
faint, centered oval motif. A broad, combed, L-shaped handle is attached at the
back. Intact and perfect. On one side brown deposits can be seen, but the
majority of the pieces shows bright but transparent blue, green, and red
iridescence. Cf G.F.M. fig. 68, there Rhenish, late 1st to 2nd century AD;
Newark, fig. 128.
Estimated Value $350-500.
Lot 4726
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.
Estimated Value $500-650.
Lot 4727
A Little Juglet in Green.
Roman, 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 4". Blown in an attractive, thick
leaf green glass this footed juglet featues a flattish rolled out rim on a
thick, flaring neck atop a flattened ovate body. With a wide, folded and
flaring foot. At one side is a trailed handle in the same color glass. Short,
stable age cracks are scattered along the body with a larger crack at neck.
Repair to inner mouth is noted. With some interior earthen patina and sporadic
hints of colorful iridescence. Well crafted, an attractive object for display.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 4728
Thick Green Glass
"Candlestick" Unguentarium, with Impressive Iridescence. Roman Syria, c. 2nd
centu. Height: 3-1/2". This bottle is nearly spool-shaped and has a wide
flang-like, straight cylindrical neck, with an equally broad, flattened
disc-like body. The color of the glass is scarcely visible through the
exceptional, intensely colored iridescence -- reflecting predominantly copper
and green hues with cobalt accents. Intact and perfect. If one were but to own
only a single example of ancient glass, why not this!
Estimated Value
$300-450.
Lot 4729
Long Necked Bottle with
Vivid Iridescece. Roman Syria, 2nd Century AD. Height: 6-3/4". Blown from a
clear to faintly green glass, this flask has a funnel mouth with a rolled rim.
Its long, lightly funnel-shaped cylindrical neck expands down towards the
flattened, conical body. Its base is slightly concave. The bottle is quite
symmetrical and nicely porportioned, with speckles of exceptionally intense
blue, green, purple to mauve, and gold iridescence. Intact and perfect. Choice!
Cf. Harden Pl. XX Fig. 799. Newark Fig. 138.
Estimated Value $300-450.
Lot 4730
Iridescent Long Neck
Bottle. Roman, 2nd to 3rd Century AD. Height: 8-1/4". A fine bell-body
unguentarium in light green glass. The broad discoid top has a rolled rim, and
a long cylinder neck with a constricted base set atop a short and widely flared
cone-like body. The base is deeply concave. Intact and perfect, with choice
transparent to translucent iridescence tending to greens, limes, and coppers,
plus beautiful and bright green, red to light blue, along with a soft
shimmering creme- purple. Choice!! Cf. Harden pl. XX, fig. 799.
Estimated
Value $500-UP.
Lot 4731
Flask with Bell-shaped
Body. Roman, c. 2nd century AD. Height: 4-3/4". This bottle is heavy and
robust and is blown from aqua-green glass. With a wide funnel mouth and inward
folded rim, there is a narrow, slightly flaring neck attached to the broad body
of the truncated cone shaped flask. A slight indention to the walls gives this
bottle the appearance of an overturned goblet. Intact and perfect. With areas
of vivid, somewhat golden iridescence. Attractive and well proportioned.
Estimated Value $350-500.
Lot 4732
"Pilgrim's Flask" with
Stunning Iridescence. Roman , c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 5-3/8".
Blown in pale green glass, this bottle has a flared funnel-like rim and a
narrow cylinder neck set upon a globular body with a flat base. Here the body
is flattened into a to wafer-like thickness. The bottle is choice with very
careful, expert repair to the body, however, the restoration is almost
invisible amid the surface patina and vibrant irdescence. The time induced
colors on this bottle are stunning! Vivid, softly metallic greens, blues,
violets vibrate from the surface! This is what ancient glass is about -- time
and nature forming a man-made oject into a true jewel! Cf. A.G. pl. 26; Newark
no. 456; Hans Cohn Collection, no. 134. Likely of Palestinian or Syrian make.
Estimated Value $750-UP.
Lot 4733
Beaker with Fine
Iridescence. Roman, c. 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 3-1/4". Rather robust
and heavy, this beaker is a delicate, inverted bell shape with a flared, cupped
rim and curved, tapering walls. In pale green glass, the exterior displays
superb iridescence in silvery violet to brilliant "peacock" greens, limes,
reds, golds and coppers. With a moderate, stable age crack on one side, and
modest ancient chipping to the rim. One not to be missed! Cf. Newark, fig. 501.
Estimated Value $400-600.
Lot 4734
Large Cup or Bowl. Roman,
c. 2nd century AD. Height: 2-3/8"; Width: 5-1/8". Well crafted and finely
proportioned in light green glass, this bowl has a shallow, flaring ,
funnel-type mouth with a rolled and folded rim, and rounded conical body set
atop a folded ring foot. Large and delicately made, the bowl remains intact and
perfect. With white earthen patina and patchy silver, blue-green, and magenta
and rose iridescence. Very fine. Cf. G.F.M. fig. 99; Newark, figs. 36, 37.
Estimated Value $400-600.
Lot 4735
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.
Estimated
Value $200-300.
Lot 4736
Unusual Lamp of Krater
Shape. Roman Phoenicia, 2nd to 3rd century AD. Height: 4-1/4". Blown from
pale green glass, this krater-lamp features a bell-like body on a narrow stem
foot. The wide mouth has a rolled over and folded rim. Evenly spaced about the
rim are three trailed, short loop handles of v-shape. Set within the center of
krater bottom is a cylindrical projection with a rolled rim resembling the
severed neck and rim of a small tear jar. The piece shows repairs and some
"restorations." The glass is thickly encrusted on both internal and external
surfaces with dirt and mottled gold, green, purple and copper iridescence.
While odd, this piece looks more like like an ancient innovation rather than a
recent pastiche (note especially lot no. 3396, following). It is being sold "as
is." For goblet shape, cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, fig. 60b; Newark, fig. 198.
Estimated Value $500-UP.