Balsamarium

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Balsamarium

Place of OriginRoman Empire

Date1st-2nd century CE

DimensionsGlass Dimensions: 4 1/4 × 3/4 × 1 15/16 in. (10.8 × 1.9 × 4.9 cm)

Mediumglass

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1916.160

Not on View

DescriptionThis balsamarium is made of medium thin, transparent natural green glass with a dusky yellow-green tint (5 G 5/2). A few pinprick and small spherical bubbles are visible in the body. The vessel was free-blown and tooled. The rim is folded outward, upward, inward, and then flattened. The cylindrical neck shows a slight tool mark at its base. The body is near conical with a constriction at mid-height that creates a double convex profile. The base is flattened and lacks a pontil mark. Its form closely parallels other double convex bottles in the collection (e.g., 1923.1147, 1923.1148, 1916.162) and resembles examples illustrated in Vessberg 1952 (pl. VII, nos. 28–29) and Hayes 1975 (no. 215, fig. 8; pl. 10). Additional comparanda include pieces published by Bagatti and Milik in Dominus Flevit, with dates ranging from the second quarter of the 1st century to the mid-3rd century CE, as well as similar vessels from Huqoq and Nazareth documented by Barag (1970).

Comparative ReferencesSee also Vessberg 1952, pl. VII nos. 28-29. Hayes 1975, no. 215 fig. 8 and pl. 10 gives no other parallels except Vessberg. Check Bagatti and Milik, Dominus Flevit A II 226-233 (dated ? mid 3 c by Barag) but cf. Franciscans in Nazareth 71 Barag 1970 (pl. 13) dated 2nd quart - end of 1st c and idem(?) from Huqoq. Amman in QDAP.