Glass handkerchief bowl

Roman

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 169

Translucent blue green; trail in same color.
Vertical, rounded, thickened rim; deep body with almost vertical side, then curving in sharply at bottom; low, tubular base ring, made by folding; flat bottom but with low internal kick at center and circular pontil mark.
On body, single trail applied two-thirds down side and wound round and upwards in an irregular spiral six times to rim and then wound down again in a spiral twice, ending near where it began, reduced to faint rib by reheating on upper body; rim crumpled, with eight uneven projecting folds.
Intact; a few large bubbles; small patches of soil encrustation, weathering, and iridescence.

Vessels that have been deliberately worked to create a wavy rim and sides are extremely rare in Roman glassware. This bowl is perhaps the best example known to have survived.

Glass handkerchief bowl, Glass, Roman

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