BALSAMAIRE Pale green glass, deposits, iridescence. H. 9 cm Eastern Mediterranean, 2nd-3rd century Provenance European private collection, acquired on the English art market in 1990-2000 Elegant balsam jar in blown glass, with a pear-shaped body, narrow neck and slightly flared lip, flanked by two gracefully arched ribbon handles extending from the shoulder to the lip. This form of miniature amphora, inspired by ceramics, was highly prized in Roman antiquity for containing perfumes, aromatic oils, precious ointments and cosmetic essences. The glass, originally a translucent pale green typical of Roman production, has developed an exceptional patina of iridescence over the centuries, with silvery, pearly and greenish reflections flecked with black dots, resulting from the gradual chemical alteration of the vitreous surface during its centuries-long burial. This weathering creates a particularly spectacular rainbow effect, giving the piece a poetic beauty that combines opalescent reflections of white, turquoise, gold and emerald green. These small bottles, mass-produced in glass workshops in Syria-Palestine, Egypt and Italy, were sold throughout the Roman Empire. Their small size (generally between 8 and 15 cm high) meant that they were intended to contain small quantities of precious substances, often imported from the East - nard, myrrh, Judean balsam, rose oil - the high cost of which justified these miniature containers. They were used both for everyday purposes by the wealthy classes and for funeral rituals, and were frequently placed as offerings in Roman tombs. Excellent state of preservation. A Roman Eastern Mediterranean Balsamarium. 2nd-3rd century A.D. In blown glass of two-handled form, presenting a pyriform body with narrow neck and slightly flared lip, flanked by two ribbon handles gracefully arched from the shoulder to attach to the rim. This miniature amphora form, inspired by pottery, constituted a highly prized type in Roman Antiquity for containing perfumes, aromatic oils, precious unguents, or cosmetic essences. Perfect condition. The glass, originally of pale translucent green hue typical of Roman production, has developed over the centuries an exceptional iridescent patina with silvery, pearlescent, and greenish reflections speckled with black dots, resulting from progressive chemical alteration of the vitreous surface during its centuries-long burial. This weathering creates a spectacular rainbow-like shimmering effect, conferring upon the piece a poetic beauty where opalescent reflections of white, turquoise, gold, and emerald green intermingle. These small flasks, mass-produced in glass workshops of Syria-Palestine, Egypt, or Italy, were marketed throughout the Roman Empire. Their reduced format (generally between 8 and 15 cm in height) destined them to contain small quantities of precious substances, often imported from the East-nard, myrrh, balsam of Judea, rose oil-whose high cost justified these miniature containers. They served both the daily use of wealthy classes and funerary rituals, being frequently deposited as offerings in Roman tombs.