Glass jug
Unknown Artist
mid-1st–2nd century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 4 1/2 x 3 1/8in. (11.5 x 8cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Early to Mid Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.135
Art Historical Context
This elegant glass jug, crafted in the mid-1st to 2nd century CE Rome's Early to Mid Imperial, offers a glimpse into the refined daily life of the ancient Roman world. Measuring a modest 4 1/2 x 3 1/8 inches (11.5 x 8 cm), it likely served as a practical vessel for pouring wine, oil, or water in a household setting. Its simple, functional form highlights the ubiquity of glassware in Roman culture, where such items bridged utility and subtle beauty. Roman glassmaking reached new heights in this era, with techniques like free-blowing allowing for lightweight, transparent objects that were both ...