Bowl or Cup
Late 1st century BCE-early 1st century CE
Medium
Glass, mosaic glass technique
Dimensions
3.8 × 9 × 9 cm (1 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 in.)
Classification
bowl
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
61926
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome as containers for oils, perfume, and tablewares. The variety of glass-making techniques reveals the changing tastes and fashions over the centuries. During the 1st century CE, cast glass was a novel form that was a luxury for the Roman household, but by the end of the century, the innovation of blown glass allowed for less labor-intensive and less expensive production, which meant people of lesser means could afford it. ...
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...