Roman moss green modiolus with spiral thread decoration, c.50-100 AD
Glass
Height: 13.3cm, diameter 12.7cm
12623
£ 24,000
Further images
A large modiolus free-blown in clear, moss green glass, with flaring lip and spreading ring base, a ring handle attached three-quarters of the way up one side. The body decorated with a thin thread of glass which encircles the body some twenty times. Small gaps in the trail, otherwise in a remarkably pristine state.
Examples of this form have been found all over the Roman Empire but the superb quality of this piece suggests that it may come from the West. Though the term modiolus is Latin for a grain measure, the widely varying sizes of known examples and the fragile nature of the material, makes it very unlikely that they represent any kind of standard measure, it is much more likely they were drinking vessels. The horizontal flange lip of this example might even have allowed for a lid, as suggested by Auth (1976), though none have ever been found with one.
Examples of this form have been found all over the Roman Empire but the superb quality of this piece suggests that it may come from the West. Though the term modiolus is Latin for a grain measure, the widely varying sizes of known examples and the fragile nature of the material, makes it very unlikely that they represent any kind of standard measure, it is much more likely they were drinking vessels. The horizontal flange lip of this example might even have allowed for a lid, as suggested by Auth (1976), though none have ever been found with one.
Provenance
Private collection, Europe; acquired in the 1980sCharles Ede Ltd, London, UK; acquired from the European art market 8th November 2010
J.B. collection, UK; acquired from the above 21st July 2011
Literature
Compare Susan H. Auth, Ancient Glass at the Newark Museum (Newark N.J., 1976), no.107Publications
Charles Ede Ltd, Catalogue 183 (London, 2011), no.32
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