Glass 'Mercurius' bottle

An old, clear glass bottle with rust and dirt, placed against a black background.
Old, rusty glass bottle with a long narrow neck and a wider rectangular body, set against a black background.

Very fine quality colorless color glass bottle, in perfect condition and brilliant iridescence covering almost all of surfaces.

Broad rim, folded out, down, round and in, and flattened on top surface; thick-walled cylindrical neck, expanding downwards; pushed-in horizontal shoulder with raised rounded corners; square, thick-walled body, with flat sides; concave bottom.

Bottles of this type are often called Mercurious flasks because the figure of Mercurious, the Roman god of commerce and trade, appears in molded relief on the bottom of some examples. On the bottom of this bottle is a peacock with outstretched tail feathers. These sturdy and very portable containers are found mainly in Italy and the western provinces; they are virtually unknown from the eastern half of the Empire.

An old, rusty bottle opener with a long handle and flat part for opening bottles, set against a black background.

Materials : Glass

Size: 11 × 2,8 cm

Weight: 25 gramms

Period: c. 200 - 300 AD

Condition: Intact

Provenance: Dos & Bertie Winkel collection

Price: € 2.200,—