Glass perfume bottle
Unknown Artist
1st century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm) Diam.: 1 3/4 x 7/8 in. (4.4 x 2.2 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Early 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
74.51.5755
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass perfume bottle, dating to the 1st century CE during Rome's Early Imperial period, exemplifies the everyday elegance of Roman. Standing just 3 1/8 inches tall with a slender, elongated form (diameter 1 3/4 x 7/8 inches), it was likely used to hold precious oils, perfumes, or cosmetics—essentials for personal grooming in a culture that prized beauty and hygiene. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek and Roman Art collection, it hails from The Cesnola Collection, acquired through public subscription in 1874–76, highlighting early American enthusiasm for classical anti...