Glass Fragments from a Vessel

Art Historical Context

These delicate glass fragments, deep blue in hue, originate from a vessel crafted in Coptic Egypt during the 4th to early 5th century—a pivotal era when Christianity flourished amid the remnants of pharaonic and Greco-Roman traditions. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval Art collection (acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1908), they exemplify the everyday artistry of Coptic culture, where skilled artisans produced functional objects blending utility with subtle beauty. The deep blue color, likely achieved through cobalt impurities, reflects advanced glassmaking techniques inherited...