Roman Turquoise Glass Pyxis
1st-4th century A.D. A vibrant green-blue glass pyxis with a broadly barrel-shaped body, everted foot and shoulder, domed inverted neck; areas of iridescence; repaired. Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 2000.5a, b, for a bone pyxis of similar form, dated 1st century A.D; see accession numbers 17.194.238a, b and 25.78.118a, b, for examples of a different form made from glass. 42 grams, 85 mm high (3 3/8 in.). Acquired early 1990s.Ex private American collection; thence by descent.Private collection since 1998. Originally used principally by women to hold cosmetics, jewellery or even poisonous substances, some pyxides have even been identified as ink pots. Most surviving examples are Green terracotta examples.