Hairpin
Unknown Artist
1st–4th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 3 3/8 x 1/8 in. (8.5 x 0.3 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
Roman
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.63
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass hairpin, dating from the 1st to 4th century, offers a glimpse into the everyday elegance of Roman life. Crafted during the height of the Roman Empire, glassmaking flourished as a widespread art form, slender accessory measures just 3 3/8 x 1/8 inches—perfect for securing elaborate hairstyles popular among Roman women. Its slim, elongated form suggests it was designed for practical yet stylish use, pinning up tresses adorned with curls or braids that signified status and beauty. Roman glass production was revolutionary, evolving from imported luxury to mass-produced items t...