Galena flasks

“When sleep deserts your gentle limbs, arise, and learn the way to dazzle all men’s eyes…. Whoever puts this lotion on her face, will make her mirror take a second place.” (Ovid, On Cosmetics. 51-68)

During the 4th century A.D. there seems to have been a specific association between the silvery eye make-up, galena, and a novel twin-chambered flask that, over the subsequent two centuries, became one of the most common items among the furnishings of Eastern Empire graves. Some of these flasks retain the bronze spatula, others a roll-tipped applicator, suggesting that one chamber was used to store the mineral as a fine powder while the other was where, with olive oil, it was turned into a paste.

All glassware is shown at a scale of one-to-one unless otherwise stated.

Nodules of the mineral,
lead sulphide (galena)

MS 233
Provenance unknown
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green
Gift of John Harrison

MS 5047
Possibly from Tubas (Syria)
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5048
Possibly from Tubas (Syria)
Late 4th century A.D.
Medium green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5105
Provenance unknown
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5223
Possibly from Jibrin (Israel)
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green
Gift of George & Henry J. Vaux

MS 5237
Possibly from Beth Jibrin (Israel)
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5484
Provenance unknown
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Gift of Lydia T. Morris

MS 5487
Provenance unknown
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Gift of Lydia T. Morris

29-105-674
From Beth Shean (Israel), tomb 1
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Excavated by G.M. Fitzgerald

32-15-68
From Beth Shean (Israel), tomb 295
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Excavated by G.M. Fitzgerald

MS 5108
Possibly from Tell Nimrin (Jordan)
Late 4th-early 5th century A.D.
Light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

86-35-54
Provenance unknown
Late 4th-early 5th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Gift of George & Henry J. Vaux

MS 5103
Possibly from Lydda (Israel)
5th century A.D.
Light green; dark blue
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5106
Possibly from Beth Shemesh (Israel)
5th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5107
Possibly from Nazareth (Israel)
5th century A.D.
Bluish green; bluish green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5230
Possibly from Jibrin (Israel)
5th century A.D.
Medium green; dark green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5231
Possibly from Jerusalem (Israel)
5th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5239
Possibly from Nazareth (Israel)
5th century A.D.
Light green; light green; turquoise
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

86-35-53
Provenance unknown
5th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Gift of George & Henry J. Vaux

Introduction

Unguentaria 1st-3rd

Unguentaria 4th +

Cosmetics

Oil Flasks

Galena Flasks

Small Cups

Jars

Dishes/Bowls

Jugs/Flasks

Wine Beakers

Bottles

Lamps etc.

Mold Blown/Decorated

Contacts/Credits