Roman Double Cosmetic Tube with Handles

In the ancient world, as today, lovely women enhanced their natural looks with cosmetics. These glass tubes, created at the height of the classical age, may once have contained two kinds of eye shadow, perhaps black kohl and bright green malachite. We can picture some noble woman drawing out the dark beauty of her eyes as she anticipated the arrival of her beloved. What dreams and passions did she carry with her on the journey though life? This delicate vessel, witness to the rituals of daily existence, connects us in an intimate way with the world of the past. As we hold it, our imagination crosses over the bridge of time and sets out on a wondrous journey of discovery.