Glass perfume bottle
Unknown Artist
2nd–3rd century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
5 5/16in. (13.5cm) Other: 2 11/16 in. (6.9 cm) Diam. of rim: 1 1/8 in. (2.9 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
74.51.100
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass perfume bottle, dating to the 2nd–3rd century CE, hails from the Roman Mid-Imperial period and exemplifies the everyday elegance of ancient Roman life. Standing just 5 5/16 inches (13.5 cm) tall with a slender profile—2 11/16 inches (6.9 cm) wide and a rim diameter of 1 1/8 inches (2.9 cm)—it was likely used to hold scented oils or perfumes, essential for personal grooming, religious rituals, or as luxurious gifts. Such vessels, known as unguentaria, were ubiquitous in Roman households, reflecting the empire's sophisticated culture of beauty and hygiene. Crafted from glass...