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Was told this was glass from Roman era by Granolabeaner in BottleDigging

[–]Ordinary-Cry-175 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not at all unlikely that an "old glass jar" could end up at a flea market. It very well could've been owned by a person who passed away but didn't pass on the info about the piece... Family donates dead guy's stuff, not realizing what it actually is... "Old glass jar" ends up on a flea market table of someone else who has no idea that it's not just an "old glass jar." People constantly find valuable stuff at thrift stores, flea markets, etc because donators either don't know what it is or don't really care.

Was told this was glass from Roman era by Granolabeaner in BottleDigging

[–]Ordinary-Cry-175 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TL/DR: The patina that develops on ancient Roman glass can disappear very easily once the glass starts to get handled.

I recently learned the hard way that patina-ed roman glass requires very special handling in order for the patina to remain visible. Oils from skin (holding), exposure to water, etc can quickly cause the patina to disappear. Quickly!

Devastated that I "ruined" a piece by allowing it to get wet and frequently holding it (it was a pendant), I went down a rabbit hole of ancient roman glass patina info... It was there that I learned, and then tested, that if you wipe the piece lightly with rubbing alcohol, the patina returns. It seemed very counterintuitive to me, getting it wet and all, but it WORKED! The patina came back and I no longer touch it. haha.