Cosmetic Container
4th-6th century
Medium
Glass, blown technique
Dimensions
10.3 × 5.1 × 3.8 cm (4 1/16 × 2 × 1 1/2 in.)
Classification
glass
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
61988
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome to create tableware and containers for oils and perfume. The variety of glass-making techniques reveals the changing tastes and fashions over the centuries. During the 1st century, cast glass was a novel form and a luxury for Roman households. By the end of the century, however, innovations in technique allowed for cheaper and less labor-intensive production, making it affordable to people of lesser means. Blown glass ne...