Antique Roman Flask B In The Shape Of A Date, Called

Circa 1st century A.D.

A Roman mold-blown amber glass flask in the form of a date fruit, the elongated ovoid body decorated with deep vertical ribs realistically imitating the natural texture of the fruit, tapering to a rounded base; the shoulders gently sloping to a short cylindrical neck and everted rim.

The glass of rich amber tone with areas of weathering, encrustation and surface iridescence.

Height: 8 cm

Condition:
Broken and reassembled from several fragments, with visible fracture lines across the body.
Restoration to the neck and rim.
Surface deposits, weathering and internal fissures consistent with burial.
Overall stable and well presented.

Provenance:
Private french collection , sold in auction.

Note:
This flask belongs to the distinctive group of Roman mold-blown vessels known as “date flasks”, whose naturalistic form reflects the fruit of the date palm. Produced primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean during the early Imperial period, these vessels illustrate the technical and artistic innovations made possible by the introduction of mold-blowing in the 1st century A.D.

Comparable examples are held in museum collections and have appeared on the international art market, confirming the typological consistency of the group, though intact specimens remain scarce.