Roman Turquoise Glass Pyxis

1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.

3 3/8 in. (42 grams, 85 mm high).

With a broadly barrel-shaped body, everted foot and shoulder, domed inverted neck; areas of iridescence; repaired.

Provenance

Acquired early 1990s.
Ex private American collection; thence by descent.
Private collection since 1998.

Literature

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 2000.5a, b, for a bone pyxis of similar form, dated 1st century A.D; see accession numbers 17.194.238a, b and 25.78.118a, b, for examples of a different form made from glass.

Footnotes

Originally used principally by women to hold cosmetics, jewellery or even poisonous substances, some pyxides have even been identified as ink pots. Most surviving examples are green terracotta examples.

CONDITION

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LOT 0118