Glass jug
Unknown Artist
4th–5th century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Late Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881
Accession Number
81.10.68
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass jug, crafted by an unknown Roman artisan in the 4th–5th century CE during the Late Imperial period, the everyday elegance of Roman craftsmanship. Standing just 6 1/4 inches (15.9 cm) tall, it was likely used for pouring water, wine, or oils in a household setting. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Greek and Roman Art Department, it entered the collection as a gift from Henry G. Marquand in 1881, preserving a slice of ancient domestic life. Roman glassmaking reached remarkable heights by this era, with free-blowing techniques—perfected centuries earlier—allowing fo...