Hexagonal Jug
Unknown Artist
500–650
Medium
Moulded glass
Dimensions
Overall: 6 3/16 x 2 15/16 x 2 11/16 in. (15.7 x 7.4 x 6.8 cm)
Classification
Glass-Vessels
Culture
Byzantine
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. Isacc D. Fletcher Collection, Bequest of Isaac D. Fletcher, 1917
Accession Number
17.120.246
Art Historical Context
Step into the enchanting world of Byzantine craftsmanship with this *Hexagonal Jug*, a vessel crafted by an unknown artist between 500 650 CE. Measuring just over 6 inches tall, its compact form—6 3/16 x 2 15/16 x 2 11/16 inches (15.7 x 7.4 x 6.8 cm)—features six faceted sides, making it both functional and visually striking. Made of moulded glass, this piece exemplifies the sophisticated glassworking techniques of the Byzantine Empire, centered in the Eastern Mediterranean. Moulded glass, as seen here, was a pivotal innovation during this period, allowing artisans to create precise, geometri...