Fragment of a Glass Bowl

Art Historical Context

This delicate fragment from a 3rd-century Roman bowl showcases the exquisite artistry of gold glass, a luxurious technique where thin sheets of gold leaf were engraved with designs and sealed between two layers of glass. Measuring just 2¾ x 4 inches, small shard—likely part of a larger vessel—highlights the Romans' mastery of combining transparency and opulence, creating vessels that shimmered like jewels under candlelight. Gold glass emerged in the late Roman Empire, particularly in Rome and its environs, during a time of cultural transition from pagan traditions to early Christianity. These...