Glass, vessel, vase

A fragment of a monochrome blue under opaque white glass vase. This type of glass ware was very expensive and is rarely found in Britain.

The blue is a high-quality translucent glass, with very few bubbles. The white is much more crystalline and finely bubbly (appearance of fine polystyrene). This may have been a deliberate effect, to imitate the appearance of fine-grained marble. Parts present: body. Technical features: cameo-cut, cast. Numerous fine parallel lines of abrasion on the inner surface suggest that the blank was cast (some other Roman vessels - like 19th-century cameo glasses - appear to have been cased or flashed). Numerous fine tool marks remain on the outer surface from cutting away the white layer to create the design. This consists of curving tendrils, arranged in layers, with large vine leaves and bunch of grapes.

The sherd comes from a convex vessel - perhaps one similar to the 'Blue Vase' from Pompeii.