Ribbed Perfume Bottle, Blown Glass, Roman Art, Late 1st Century Bc To 2nd Century Ad

Blown glass bottle with a globular body decorated with raised ribs (convex ridges) forming a regular pattern around the entire circumference. Long cylindrical neck ending in a slightly flared and rolled lip. Bluish blown glass with a slight pearly iridescence and traces of localized calcareous concretions. Small restoration on the neck (approx. 2 × 0.5 cm) and a crack of approximately 3 cm. Mediterranean Basin, Roman art, late 1st century BC – 2nd century AD. Dimensions: H. 8.8 × 5.4 cm. Unguentaria, also called balsamaria, were intended to contain perfumes, scented oils, and ointments used in personal hygiene. The ribbed relief decoration of this example results from shaping the hot glass in contact with a mold, complemented by tool work: rotating the flask allowed for the creation of regular ribs on the body, giving the surface a particularly refined light-catching effect. This technique, more time-consuming and demanding than smooth glassware, requires true workshop expertise and corresponds to a more meticulous production, reserved for a privileged clientele in Roman times.