Bottle in the Shape of a Date
1st to mid–2nd century
Medium
Glass, mold-blown
Dimensions
6.2 × 2.6 × 2.9 cm (2 7/16 × 1 × 1 1/8 in.)
Classification
bottle
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
65612
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Bottles in the shape of dates are commonly preserved in the yellow-brown color of the fruit itself. Vessels like this one served as containers for precious liquids, probably scented oils that were shipped throughout the empire.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...