Glass lentoid bottle
Unknown Artist
2nd–3rd century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
3 in. (7.6 cm) Diam. of rim: 13/16 in. (2.1 cm) Width: 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · 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
74.51.68
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass lentoid bottle, dating to the 2nd–3rd century CE, exemplifies the refined artistry of Mid Imperial Roman glassmaking. Shaped like a lentil—biconvex with a narrow rim (just 13/16 inch or 2.1 cm in diameter)—it stands a modest 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall and 2 1/16 inches (5.2 cm) wide, making it perfectly portable for everyday use. Likely crafted for holding perfumes, oils, or cosmetics, such vessels were common in Roman households, blending functionality with subtle elegance. Roman glassworkers, building on innovations like free-blowing introduced in the 1st century BCE, produc...