Glass bowl, possibly an inkwell

Art Historical Context

This delicate glass bowl, possibly anwell, hails from the Roman Mid Imperial period, around the 2nd3rd century CE. just 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter, it exemplifies the everyday elegance of Roman craftsmanship during the height of the empire, when glass objects became accessible luxuries for homes, offices, and scholars Its petite scale hints at practical use—perhaps holding ink for writing on papyrus or wax tablets—offering a glimpse into the literate culture of ancient Rome. Roman glassmaking reached remarkable sophistication by this era, with techniques like molding and free-blowing enab...