The June 2-5, 2002, Pre-Long Beach Sale, Sale 14
Lot 4762
Iridescent Sprinkler
Bottle with Molded Ribbing. Roman Syria, 3rd to 4th Century AD. Height: 4".
Mold blown from pale green glass. This piece has a wide funnel mouth with
double folded rim, a short flaring neck, and a broad, pear-shaped body with
decorative vertical ribbing on its body. Part of the body shows a
silvery-violet iridescence, tending to blues and light magentas. Intact and
pefect. A handsome example. Cf. G.A.E., Vol. 1 fig. 147.
Estimated Value
$350-450.
Lot 4763
Sprinkler Flask with
Iridescent and Patterned Body. Roman, perhaps Syrian, c. 3rd to 4th century AD.
Height: 3-5/8". Blown in light green glass, this bottle has a shallow
funnel mouth, a flaring cylinder neck with integral diaphragm within, and a
spherical body with a flattend base. On the body, a mold made ornament in a
herringbone pattern appears in three registers. With areas of crusty patina
having iridescence in bright blue, green, gold, and copper, while the rest
shows more subtle silvery-violet iridescence. Finely preserved. Said to be
found in Syria. Cf. Hans Cohn Collection, fig. 67b; Sammlung Oppenlander no.
490.
Estimated Value $450-700.
Lot 4764
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.
Estimated Value
$300-400.
Lot 4765
Sprinkler Flask. Roman
Syria, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-1/8". Blown in heavy yellow-green
glass, this piece has a wide funnel mouth with a folded rim, a short flaring
neck with interior diaphragm, and high ovoid body with indented base. Intact
and perfect, with silvery-gray, mottled magenta and green iridescence. Well
made and robust. Cf, G.A.E. figs. 214, 335.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 4766
A Fine Large Sprinkler
Flask. Roman, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-7/8". Mold blown in green
glass, this robust bottle features a wide funnel mouth with a folded rim, a
cylinder neck with interior diaphragm, and a sharply ovoid body with fairly
deep concave bottom. Intact and perfect. With vivid speckles and patches of
multi-colored gold, copper, turquoise, blue, yellow and green iridescence.
Large and choice, with subtle beauty. Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, pl. 86; Sammlung
Oppenlander no. 480.
Estimated Value $450-650.
Lot 4767
Colorful Funnel Mouth Jar
with Pinched Walls. Roman, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 2-5/8". Blown
from yellow-green glass, this jar has a wide funnel mouth and neck. The
hemispherical body features a deeply indented base. The walls are pinched to
create eight vertical ribs, giving the body the appearance of a melon. Intact
and perfect. With translucent silvery-violet iridescence, having pastel blues,
greens, and light magentas. Colorful and different.
Estimated Value
$200-300.
Lot 4768
Textured Large Flask.
Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 8-1/2". The large and graceful
flask is blown in a light green glass. The bottle features a wide funnel mouth
with carinated rim, a flaring long cylinder neck, and a broad piriform body.
The body was pinched or trailed with a net-like pattern before being blown to
full size, giving it a look wholly distinct look from the usual glass trailings
or mold blown patterning. Intact and perfect, with transparent iridescence, in
silvery greens, blues,coppers, and pastel magentas. A very fine bottle. Cf.
Sammlung Opplander nos. 659, 686.
Estimated Value $600-950.
Lot 4769
A Huge Decanter, in Green
Glass. Roman, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 10". Here we offer a jumbo
and robust version of similar bottles seen elsewhere in this sale. This bottle
is blown with a slightly cupped funnel mouth. It features a longish flaring
neck atop a sharply ovoid body. Intact and perfect, without any of the usual
cracks seen on larger pieces. With patches of opaque, but mostly transparent
slivery-blue, green to purple iridescence, some of it vivid. Impressively
monumental!
Estimated Value $1,750-UP.
Lot 4770
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 flattend, 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 find ancient
glass much larger than this.
Estimated Value $1,750-UP.
Lot 4771
Ampulla Bottle in Yellow
Glass. Roman, later 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-7/8". The rimless
mouth of this piece has a lightly flared neck which is constricted at the
bottom. The spherical body has a slight shoulder with a concave base. Intact
and perfect. With a thin to transparent silvery to speckled green, purple,
copper, blue iridescence. Cf. G.A.E. Vol. II, figs. 60, 481, 445l; Sammlung
Opppenlander no. 514, but with wheel-cut decoration. Shape is similar to types
found in German tombs of the mid-3rd to 4th Century AD, but also found in
Syria.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Lot 4772
Richly Textured Sprinkler
Flask. Roman,c. 3rd to 5th Century AD. Height: 3-3/4". Mold blown in
substantial clear glass, this piece has a short cylindrical neck with an
integral interior diaphragm. The round body features a multi-circular raised
design interspaced with triangles and rectangles. Most of the original neck is
now missing. With a restored simple rim. The body of the bottle is finely
preserved with a lovely iridescence in zones of muted copper and rose, to
mottled silver-mauve, coppers and blue-green, with accents of pure violet. An
appealing object, with intricate patterning complimenting the lovely colors.
Cf. G.A.E. Vol. 1, fig. 147L.; Sammlung Opplander no. 489 for pattern.
Estimated Value $300-450.
Lot 4773
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.
Estimated Value
$1,250-UP.
Lot 4774
Boldly Iridescent Beaker.
Roman, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 3-7/8". This interesting beaker is
rather spool-shaped and is blown in pale green or aqua glass. With a deep and
rimless funnel mouth, the lightly conical body sits upon a short folded foot.
The narrow waist of the cup is bordered with trailed glass. The beaker shows
several stablized cracks, and perhaps a spot or two of restoration. The ancient
surfaces reveal a veritable landscape of fascinating and prismatic iridescent
colors -- mainly variations on silver-greens and magentas. A very appealing
object of display.
Estimated Value $300-450.
Lot 4775
Interesting Iridescent
Square-sided Flask. Roman Asia Minor, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height:
4-3/4". Blown from light green glass, this bottle featrures a funnel mouth and
a short cylindrical neck that merges into asymmetrical shoulders. The
straight-sided body sits upon a deeply concave base. With pleasing light
purple, green and silver iridescence, there are additional underlying areas of
more vivid and intense green hues. Intact and perfect. Cf. G.A.E. Pl. 59, 60,
Fig. 66b; Newark Fig. 551.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 4776
Flask with Spectacular
Iridescence. Roman Syria, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 5-1/2". Mold
blown in light green or yellow glass, this flask is simple and elegant with its
broad funnel mouth and conical body. With rounded shoulders and base, the piece
has a deeply concave bottom. A delicate raised, net pattern can be seen over
much of the body. With restorations to the rim and parts of the body, however
these hardly detract from the magnificent shimmering, to brightly metallic
green and copper iridescence with complimentary violets, cobalt and turquoise
highlights. To many, this is what ancient glass is all about! This is what L.C.
Tiffany strove to emulate. Note the earlier beaker in Opplander, no 659.
Estimated Value $600-UP.
Lot 4777
Late Roman Beaker with
Choice Iridescence. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 3-5/8". Blown
from thick, pale green glass, this beaker shaped vessel is almost symmetrically
formed into a spool shape. With a moderately flaring mouth on its wide body,
the base is also flaring. The bottom is concave. A small chip on the body where
some age cracks converge. Otherwise beaker intact and stable. With exceptional
thick to transparent silvery-violet iridescence, which tends to blues, greens,
and light magentas. Attractive, yet very showy!
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 4778
A Choice Ewer, in Pale
Green Glass. Roman 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 9-1/8". Blown from leaf
green or yellow-green glass, this elegant vessel features a trefoil-folded
funnel mouth, and a broad cylinder neck on an almost spherical body all of
which sit atop a curved and flaring folded foot. Glass threading is wound from
the bottom of the mouth to the top of neck. At the back appears a wide trailed
handle. Intact and perfect. About half of the exterior displays a thick opaque,
silvery-gold iridescence, with other multihued overtones. The interior is a
translucent silvery-green, with pastel blues and rose. A marvelous, late Roman
luxury item!
Estimated Value $2,500-UP.
Lot 4779
Choice Trefoil Pitcher.
Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-1/2". This artful little jug is
blown in leaf or yellow-green glass. The wide, shallow funnel mouth is folded
into a broad triangular spout. The lightly flared cylinder neck sits upon a
globular body. Trailed glass is thickly wound about the neck and spread over
the body. A thicker collar of thread appears at the shoulders with heavy
applied handle attaching to it the rim of the mouth. A little repair to the tip
of the spout, otherwise the bottle is choicely preserved. With areas of crusty
rose colored patina-iridescence, where flaked away bright greens, reds, and
silvers show forth. Because of the rounded base to the vessel, it is unable to
stay upright by itself, and so likely this function was performed by employing
a custom-made base, perhaps in precious metal. Cf. the less elaborate, Sammlung
Oppenlander no. 670.
Estimated Value $500-650.
Lot 4780
A Superbly Colorful
Juglet. Roman, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 4-1/2". This robust bottle
is mold blown in pale green or aqua glass with vertical ribbing to the body.
The mouth is lightly flared on a thick cylinder neck which is pushed down into
the body creating the rimmed and concave shoulders. A delicate L-shaped handle
appears at one side. Intact and perfect, the bottle disploys zones of
translucent to transparent stuningly vibrant iridescence in violets, blue,
greens, limes, vivid coppers, and light magentas. A first class collection
showpiece! A scarce form, with color equal to the most fiery of Australian
opals! Opplander no. 499 (without handle).
Estimated Value $1,000-UP.
Lot 4781
Jug with Vivid Mottled
Irirdesceence. Roman, 3rd to 4th Century AD. Height: 6-5/8". Blown from an
olive-tinged green glass, this bottle has a wide but shallow funnel mouth with
a thickly rolled rim and additional thick trailed collar beneath. The tall body
is slightly barrel-shaped, with a wide, flat, slightly striated handle attached
to it and the rim. The vessel shows areas of black crusty patina which acts as
a foil to the patches of vivid green, gold, copper and purple iridescence. With
a small chip to the handle trailing at the rim. Otherwise intact and choice.
Cf. Oliver, Carnegie Museum, no. 154; G.A.E. Vol. 11, pl. 94d.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 4782
Large Jug. Roman, perhaps
Syria, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 8-7/8". A large and robust jug blown
in light green glass. With an angled funnel mouth, a short cylinder neck, and a
long cylindrical body. A thick trailed ring appears at the throat, and a wide
combed handle with neat vertical ribbing is attached at back. The body is
encircled with lightly engraved decorative bands of parallel lines. Intact,
with a few age cracks, which appear stable and the bottle sound. Scattered
earthen patina and mottled iridescence, sometines very bright, in gold,
magenta, blue, copper and green. Cf. G.A.E. Volume 1, fig. 65; Newark, fig.
132; Carnegie Museum, no. 154.
Estimated Value $550-800.
Lot 4783
Elaborate Aubergine
Juglet. Roman, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-7/8". Blown in light
aubergine glass, this juglet is robustly made. The bottle features a funnel
mouth, a flaring cylinder neck, and an inverted conical body atop a thick
discoid foot. Beneath the rim and centered on the neck are trailed rings of
glass. At the back is a trailed handle with folded thumb grips. Aside from some
losses to the trailing at the neck, this vessel has been finely preserved. With
interior and exterior black patina, which supports an intricate patchwork of
silvery, multi-hued iridescence, with splendid violets and verdant greens on
the areas of raw glass. This one worth a second look.
Estimated Value
$650-800.
Lot 4784
Funnel Mouth Flask in
Yellow. Roman, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 6-1/4". This good sized flask
is blown in heavy yellow glass. The bottle features a funnel mouth, and a long
cylinder neck that flares into the sharply ovoid body. A thick trailed ring of
olive glass appears at the throat. Intact and perfect. With mottled thin to
vibrant iridescence, in silvery greens, blues, coppers, pastel magentas, to
somber violets. A good large bottle. Cf. G.F.M. fig. 92a (Syro-Palestinian 3rd
to 5th century AD); Newark, fig. 152.
Estimated Value $450-750.
Lot 4785
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.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 4786
Juglet in Aqua Glass.
Roman Syria, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-3/8". With a wide and shallow
funnel mouth, this piece features a slighlty cupped, cylinder neck on a sharply
domed body. Decorative, tooled ribbing spirals obliquely around the body. Also,
thick circular rings have been applied at the throat and neck along with a
wide, combed, v-shaped handle attached to the back. A small defect in the rim
has been restored in wax, with a few stabilized cracks at the side. With
earthen patina and areas of pastel iridescence. A pleasant example and with a
little professional work, it could be even better. Cf. G.F.M. fig. 102b;
Newark, fig. 117.
Estimated Value $200-300.