Glass bead
Unknown Artist
ca. 3rd–5th century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Diam.: 1 7/16 in. (3.6 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Late Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.194.405
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass bead, dating to around the 3rd–5th century CE, hails from the Late Imperial Roman period—a time when the vast empire stretched across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East, blending cultures and fostering remarkable craftsmanship. Measuring just 1 7/16 inches (3.6 cm) in diameter, this small sphere exemplifies the everyday artistry of Roman glassmakers, who transformed humble silica into objects of beauty and utility. Likely part of a necklace, bracelet, or amulet, it would have adorned someone from a humble trader to a wealthy patron, reflecting the democratization of lu...