Late Roman or Byzantine bird, 4th-5th century... Lot 30

Late Roman or Byzantine bird, 4th-5th century AD. Multicolored glass. Measures: 4.8 x 9 x 3.5 cm. Late Roman or Byzantine figure entirely made of multicolored glass, representing a bird with beautiful plumage. The use of glass began to become widespread from the first century AD, after the discovery of the technique of blowing around 40 BC, in the eastern part of the Mediterranean coast. This technique was a great revolution, and immediately spread rapidly. Blown glass offered great advantages over other materials because it did not change the taste of the food it contained and was more impermeable than terracotta. In addition, the blowing technique allowed the manufacture of pieces of various shapes and sizes, and also a faster production. On the other hand, glass pieces were easier to clean, so it soon became the favorite material for domestic use.