5. A Roman Green Glass Double Balsamarium with Trail Decoration

C. 2nd - 4th Century A.D.

A finely blown Ancient Roman pale green glass double balsamarium, composed of two co-joined tubular phials. The body is decorated with thin applied trails of glass. Two ribbon handles, drawn and tooled to either side, extend from the rim and body. The piece is mounted on a custom-made stand.

The balsamarium is a specific type of Roman glass unguentarium, a vessel mass-produced for the daily containment and preservation of costly liquids, powders, and perfumed oils.

Condition: Good. Some loss of the trail decoration.

Dimensions: Height 14cm (including stand).

Provenance: From an important private collection of glass, Hampshire, UK.

£295.00

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Balsamarium

The balsamarium is a specific type of Roman glass unguentarium, a vessel mass-produced for the daily containment and preservation of costly liquids, powders, and perfumed oils. Its narrow neck and compact body allowed users to precisely regulate the distribution of these valuable contents. By the 1st century AD, the emergence of free-blown glass technology transformed the industry, facilitating innovative designs for small containers dedicated to medicines, incense, and perfumes. Because glass is naturally non-porous, it quickly became the preferred material for storing oils. Today, these delicate vials are frequently uncovered across Hellenistic and Roman archaeological sites—particularly within burial grounds—evidencing a vast imperial trade network that gathered exotic fragrances from every corner of the empire.