Glass amphoriskos (perfume bottle)
Unknown Artist
5th century BCE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); diameter of mouth 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Greek, Eastern Mediterranean · Classical
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.194.782
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass amphoriskos a small perfume bottle from the 5th century, hails from the Greek culture of the Eastern Mediterranean during the Classical period—a golden age of art, philosophy, and innovation in ancient Greece. Standing just 2 7/8 inches (7.3 cm) tall with a mouth diameter of 1 9/16 inches (4 cm), its petite form was perfectly suited for holding precious oils or perfumes, essentials for daily grooming, religious rituals, and social status. Crafted in glass, a material prized for its translucency and rarity before glassblowing techniques emerged, this vessel exemplifies the ...