Flask

About this artwork

Most of the glass vessels in this case date from the first century BC to the fourth century AD. Early glass vessels were made in the Middle East and Egypt using the core-forming technique, in which molten glass was poured over a clay core and decorated with threads of colored glass. During the first century AD, Rome became the center of glassmaking, and the invention of blown glass led to new methods, including free-blown glass, which could be decorated by pinching, rolling, or dragging the surf...

Art Historical Context

This elegant Roman flask, dating from the 1st to 4th century AD, exemplifies the artistry of ancient glassmaking during the height of the Roman Empire. Rome became the epicenter of the craft around the 1st century, glass production exploded in innovation, shifting from earlier Middle Eastern and Egyptian core-forming methods—where molten glass was draped over a clay core and trailed with colorful threads—to revolutionary blowing techniques. These allowed for lighter, more affordable vessels that graced Roman homes, banquets, and tombs. The flask likely showcases free-blown or mold-blown glass...