Small Antique Roman Vase, Aubergine-colored Blown Glass With A Pinched Body, 3rd–4th Century

Small blown glass vessel, aubergine-purple in color, with a hemispherical body finely pinched in four places, forming regular indentations probably made by hand during shaping. The neck, wide and funnel-shaped, ends in a finely rolled, well-balanced lip. The relatively thin glass shows very slight iridescence in places, without detracting from the legibility of the color. The piece is distinguished by the harmony of its proportions, the finesse of its execution, and the understated elegance of its form. Mediterranean Basin, Roman Empire, 3rd-4th century AD. Height: 5 cm Diameter: 4.1 cm Provenance: former Parisian collection following an inheritance, Drouot auction, Thierry de Maigret auction house, Paris. Sold with a certificate of authenticity and invoice from the Ocarina auction house.* Shipping costs upon request. From the 3rd century AD. In the 1st century BC, Roman glassmaking developed a more varied color palette, including violet or aubergine-colored glass, often linked to the use of manganese. Small containers of this type were intended for personal hygiene and body care, serving to hold ointments, perfumes, balms, or cosmetic preparations. The pinched body, beyond its decorative effect, improves the grip and reflects a search for more expressive and individualized forms, characteristic of Late Roman glassware.