Topic: Roman Glass ? tourist copy???

[david31162]

I bought this today at a car boot as it reminded me of glass I found years ago when I took part in Roman Archaeological digs- it just looked right -thin, bubbled and pale blue.
The glass has some lime like encrustation in places and the usual iridescence that buried glass acquires. No information came with it - from an elderly relative so it's not another new line from TK MAX!!
The bit that makes me least sure of an ancient attribution is the pontil. Don't know if it shows on the picture but it has a bright, sharp, snapped off pontil. Perhaps that should seem worn too! I know there are many tourist trade copies but does anyone have any ideas?
 David
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/david-dj/roman/IMG_1395.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/david-dj/roman/IMG_1410.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/david-dj/roman/IMG_1399.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/david-dj/roman/IMG_1390.jpg

[RAY]

Made for tourists, you can tell a mile off due to the pontil, the rest of the glass would of been sprayed with a chemical for the iridescent and acid would of been used as well while the glass was still on the pontil iron, so when it was snapped off there would be no iridescent it would be nice and clean

[chuggy]

Take a look at the recent piece on the Murano board about Scavo which will throw some more light on these pieces.
Paul

[Frank]

I used to have one. These use to be sold by Past Times, not on their website but maybe in a shop http://www.pasttimes.com/storelocator.aspx

[Anne]

I knew keeping all my Past Times back catalogues would come in handy one day... I'll have to go have a rummage and see what I can find in them.

[david31162]

Thanks folks, I thought the pontil mark looked suspicious!
David