Roman Ribbed Glass Vessel

With tapering body, flat shoulder, short neck and rolled rim. 47 grams, 10.7 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

With snake-head terminals, the heads with pellet-in-circle decoration, the body with bands of transverse lines and punched pellets. 8.6 grams, 59 mm

Very fine condition.

Acquired in the 1980s. From a North West London collection.

With a deep bowl and flat-section handle with integral loop; shallow concentric grooves around the exterior of the neck, rolled rim, concentric rings to the underside; finished on a lathe; cracked and split. 903 grams, 33 cm wide



Acquired in Europe before 1993. Private collection, Europe. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11788-206494.

In contrast to their elaborate counterparts, paterae such as this were likely carried as part of the standard kit of Roman soldiers, used as a general cooking and eating utensil. The regular heap up (sarcina) of the legionaries is well represented on the reliefs of Trajan's column. It was composed of a T stake (furca), to which a linen bag (sacculus) was hung, as well as the leather haversack for 15-20 days supplies (trinum nundinum) and personal effects, a pot (ollula), a cup (patera), and a basket for work on the fields.