Ancient Glass Long-Necked Jar

We recently acquired an especially fascinating example of Roman glass.
This small jar was produced around the 3rd century in the region of present-day Syria.

Formed using the free-blown glass technique, it possesses a gentle charm in its softly rounded body and trumpet-like flaring rim. In many ways, it may be seen as a primordial form of the later long-necked jar. Ancient glass vessels of this type are often unstable and unable to stand securely on their own, but this example is remarkably well balanced, with no wobbling at all.

One of the great beauties of ancient glass is its iridescent weathering, known in Japanese as ginka. Over long centuries underground, the surface of the glass undergoes chemical change, forming delicate film-like layers that shimmer with rainbow colors. In this piece, however, the iridescence appears not on the exterior surface, but within the interior of the vessel itself. Normally such weathering is extremely fragile and can flake away simply through touch, but here the iridescence is protected beneath the glass surface, visible through the transparent body. This means there is little concern about it deteriorating through handling—a subtle but welcome feature.

As can clearly be seen around the neck and rim, the original glass itself is a pale green color, delicate and beautiful in its own right. The balance between the soft green tone of the glass and the luminous iridescence is particularly pleasing in this work.

The glass also contains numerous small air bubbles, whose scattered reflections create a beautiful shimmering effect. Looking closely at the rounded body, one notices a fine textured pattern across the surface. After free-blowing, the vessel was likely pressed into a mold or shaped against a patterned surface to create this decoration.

Ancient glass such as this quietly conveys the accumulation of nearly two thousand years of time.

Many people enjoy using similar vessels as flower containers, but the iridescent weathering is exceptionally delicate and may detach when exposed to moisture. For those who wish to fully appreciate the beauty of the iridescence, we would recommend displaying the piece simply as it is, rather than using it as a vase.

[Text by : Mao Otsuka]