This refined table object consists of a shallow circular glass dish set within an ornate silver holder. The glass vessel is formed in a translucent blue-green hue, displaying natural iridescence, surface weathering, and mineral accretions consistent with ancient Roman glass production and long-term burial. The broad, slightly everted rim suggests a functional design intended for ease of access during dining or ritual use.

The silver holder is crafted with three gracefully curved legs terminating in stylized scroll feet, supporting a circular band that securely cradles the glass dish. The band is decorated with fine linear and zigzag motifs, reflecting Roman metalworking traditions that balanced utility with restrained ornamentation. The openwork structure elevates the vessel, emphasizing its contents and indicating its role as a prestigious table implement.

Such vessels are commonly interpreted as salt dishes, used to present salt, a valuable and symbolically significant commodity in Roman society, during formal meals or ceremonial offerings. In the Roman Imperial context, salt held economic, ritual, and social importance, reinforcing the object’s association with elite domestic or ceremonial environments.

The combination of glass and silver exemplifies Roman mastery of mixed-media luxury wares and underscores the cultural importance of dining customs as expressions of status and refinement during the Imperial period.