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HOME :
Classical Antiquities :
Ancient Glass : Roman Double Cosmetic Glass Tube
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Roman Double Cosmetic Glass Tube - SF.261
Origin: Mediterranean
Circa: 4
th
Century AD
to 6
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
7.5" (19.1cm) high
x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide
Collection: Classical
Style: Blown
Medium: Glass
£4,500.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
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The history of glass making before the Industrial revolution can be
separated in two stages: in the first, which began in the 3rd millennium
BC and ended in the period from 100 to 50 BC, craftsmen discovered
how to transform raw materials into glass and how to make vessels and
other objects either with moulds or by forming a molten glass around a
removable core. Both techniques were labour-intensive and were
seldom made in big quantities. In the second stage, beginning in the
1st century AD in the Syro-Palestinian region, glass workers found that
molten glass could be formed by inflation and manipulation with tools.
Glass blowing enabled them to make quickly a wide range of shapes,
thus widening its market. However, after the 2nd century AD, glass is
generally found in a more confined area. The change appears to have
taken place under the Flavian Emperors (69-96 AD), an era that in
many ways represents a watershed in the history of glass making. It is
from this time onwards that glassblowing in the East and the West
developed along independent lines, the only exception being fine
tableware decorated with special techniques, which was probably due
to the still unifying factor of the Roman Imperial administration.
Yet, the most prolific period in the history of glass in the Eastern
Mediterranean was during the late Roman Empire, when Egypt,
Palestine, Syria, Cyprus, Asia Minor and the north Pontic region all had
flourishing glass industries. With the increased demand for glass,
regionalism became the dominant factor in the production of glass
vessels. Marked regional differences existed not only between the glass
made in Syria, Jordan and Palestine, but even between different parts of
Palestine (inland vs coast; Galilee and Phoenicia vs Judea). The glass
industries of these regions experienced a prolonged period of growth,
and the late Roman and early Byzantine period were by far the most
important not only in terms of absolute output but also in terms of
typologies used. Only during this period, glass was finally used by
different strata of societies, sometimes even replacing pottery for
certain functions.
The Palestinian glass industry flourished from the 4th to the early 5th
century, following the rule of the Roman emperor Diocletian (284-
305), when the region enjoyed a time of relative peace in spite of
economic instability. When Constantine the Great finally emerged as
sole ruler in 324, Palestine benefited from the fact that he targeted
Jerusalem and the Holy Land as main recipients for his reconstruction
program. Exempted from personal taxation by an Imperial edict in 337,
a large number of skilled craftsmen profited greatly from the economic
boom.
The body is in the shape of two tubes connected by a common wall and
a flat base. Vessels such as this are believed to have been used to store
and apply kohl, a paste made of galena (antimony trisulphide Sb),
brown ochre and sometimes malachite that was used as eye makeup.
Indeed, the kohl tube is one of the most easily recognizable types of
ancient glass vessels. These special containers have been found mainly
in tombs dating to the Byzantine period. Some were found with traces
of the makeup preserved inside or, more frequently, with a small stick
of bronze, glass or bone used as applicator. Kohl tubes have been
found in abundance in Palestine, in a larger number than in
neighbouring countries and they may be considered a local type. The
fact that this vessel consist of two tubes suggests that it could have
been used to store two different colours of makeup.
- (SF.261)
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