Glass bottle shaped like a date
Unknown Artist
mid-1st–early 2nd century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H.: 3 1/2 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/4 x 11/16 in. (8.9 x 4.4 x 3.2 x 1.7 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Mid Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.194.237
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass bottle, shaped like a plump date, hails from the Roman Empire's Mid Imperial period (mid-1st to early 2nd century CE). Standing just 3½ inches tall, it exemplifies the everyday artistry of ancient Rome, where glassmakers crafted functional objects that doubled as playful sculptures. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1917 by J. Pierpont Morgan, it resides in the Greek and Roman Art department, a glimpse into a world of refined domestic luxury. Roman glass production reached new heights during this era, with innovations like mold-blowing allowing for intricate, natur...