Roman Glass Stepped Unguentarium

Bulbous in profile with dimpled underside, blown construction, everted rolled rim. 13.2 grams, 64 mm



Acquired from Allan Cherry, Bournemouth, UK, 2006. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK.

Similar flasks and bottles were produced in Roman Asia Minor; this is a typical example of a type found in all corners of the empire. These were decorated in many ways including applying additional pieces of glass, by cutting the surface, or (as in our case) by moulding the vessels when they were blown.

Each of low profile with stub nozzle and large filler hole. 122 grams total, 73-86 mm



From the H.N. collection, Milton Keynes, Berkshire, UK, 1990s.

Modelled with arms held behind the back, legs astride and left knee bent, head angled upwards over the right shoulder; the trousers and sleeves with incised crosshatched pattern, plain shoes; the hair drawn up in the 'Swabian knot' style above the right ear; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 93 grams total, 62 mm including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Statuettes of foreign ‘barbarian’ prisoners of this type have been found along the Danube. Their spread coincides with the Marcomannic wars of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Swabian knot in this warrior’s hair has parallels with the warrior depicted on the contemporary Sarcophagus of Portonaccio, which represents a battle between Romans and Germanic Gauls.