117 - GLASS BOWL WITH RADIATING RIBBED DECORATION

GLASS BOWL WITH RADIATING RIBBED DECORATION Pale green glass. Restored from large fragments H. 4.5 cm / Diam. 17.3 cm Roman art, 1st-3rd century Provenance European private collection, acquired on the English art market 1990-2000 An elegant hemispherical glass bowl with a wide opening, decorated with ribbing radiating from the center to the rim. The vertical ribs, blown in a ribbed mold, create a dynamic visual effect evoking the petals of a stylized flower or the sun's rays, a motif particularly prized in Roman tableware. The glass, with its pale aqua-green hue typical of Roman production (natural ferrous impurities in the sand), has a luminous translucence enhanced by a patina of silver and gold iridescence resulting from centuries of burial. This natural weathering lends the piece a pearly beauty with opalescent and shimmering reflections, testifying to its age-old authenticity. The bowl, with its low, flared profile, was used to present and serve food during Roman meals (convivium): fruit, sweet preparations, sauces or condiments. Its wide opening facilitated collective use, while its thin walls testify to the virtuosity of Roman glassmakers in their mastery of blowing and molding. Radiant decoration, frequently found in Roman glassware from the 1st to 4th centuries, evokes Hellenistic influences (notably metallic phials) while exploiting the optical qualities of glass: the ribs create plays of light and shadow that visually enliven the object. A Roman Ribbed Glass Bowl with Radial Decoration. 1st-3rd century A.D. Elegant blown-molded glass bowl of hemispherical form with wide opening, adorned with radial ribbed decoration extending from the center toward the rim. The vertical ribs, obtained by blowing into a ribbed mold, create a dynamic visual effect evoking the petals of a stylized flower or solar rays, a motif particularly prized in Roman tableware. The glass, in a pale aquatic green hue typical of Roman production (natural ferrous impurities in the sand), presents luminous translucency enhanced by a silvery and golden iridescent patina resulting from centuries-long burial. This natural weathering confers upon the piece a pearlescent beauty where opalescent and shimmering reflections intermingle, testifying to its millennial authenticity. The bowl, with its low profile and flared shape, served for the presentation and serving of dishes during Roman meals (convivium): fruits, sweet preparations, sauces, or condiments. Its wide opening facilitated communal use, while its thin walls testify to the virtuosity of Roman glassmakers in mastering blowing and molding techniques. The radial decoration, frequently attested in Roman glassware from the 1st to 4th century, evokes Hellenistic influences (notably metallic phialae) while exploiting the optical qualities of glass: the ribs create plays of light and shadow that visually animate the object.