A Roman Glass Ewer, 1st Century CE

The thinly-blown glass of this small vessel demonstrates the skill of a first century craftsman.  Of pale blue glass, the hexagonal body is accented by tilted neck with outward flaring rim and applied strap handle of opaque blue/green glass.

Dimensions: Height: 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) 

Condition:   Intact, with crack to the body near the bottom edge, and another near the handle otherwise in very good condition with pale iridescence and adhesions.

Provenance: The William R. Crawford collection of Ancient Glass and Antiquities, acquired from the European trade in the 1950's and then by descent.    William R. Crawford, a retired American career diplomat and expert on the Middle East and Cyprus, was Director of Arab-Israeli Affairs at the State Department between 1959-1964, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Cyprus thereafter.  In the 1970's, he was ambassador to Yemen and then to Cyprus and later became principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East and South Asian affairs.  He donated part of his collection to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts prior to his death in 2002.