Glass jug
Unknown Artist
1st century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
4 5/8 in. (11.8 cm) Other: 2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm) Diam. of rim: 7/8 in. (2.3 cm) Diam. of foot: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Early Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.119
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass jug, crafted by an unknown Roman artisan in the 1st century CE during the Early Imperial period, exemplifies the everyday elegance of ancient Roman craftsmanship. Standing just 4 5/8 inches (11.8 cm) tall with a slender profile—rim diameter of 7/8 inch (2.3 cm) and foot diameter of 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm)—it was likely designed for pouring small quantities of wine, oil, or perfume at the table or in personal rituals. Roman glassmaking reached a pinnacle in this era, with the invention of glassblowing around the mid-1st century BCE enabling the production of thin-walled, ligh...