Glass jug with snake-thread decoration
Unknown Artist
late 2nd–3rd century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. with handle 5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman, Rhenish · Mid Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.11.12
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass jug, adorned with intricate snake-thread decoration, h from the Rhenish region of the Roman Empire during the late 2nd to 3rd century CE, a time of Mid Imperial prosperity. Standing just 5 3/8 inches tall with its handle, this small vessel exemplifies the everyday elegance of Roman tableware. Produced in workshops along the Rhine—likely near modern-day Cologne—it reflects the cultural fusion of Roman innovation and local craftsmanship in a frontier province bustling with trade and military activity. The standout feature is its "snake-thread" technique, where molten glass t...