Pinhead
Unknown Artist
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Height: 1/2 x 5/8 in. (1.3 x 1.6 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture
Roman
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.194.549
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate "Pinhead," autive treasure from ancient Rome, crafted in glass and measuring just 1/2 x 5/8 inches (1.3 x 1.6 cm). This tiny object, likely the ornate head of a pin or hairpin, exemplifies the everyday elegance of Roman personal adornments. Its petite scale invites wonder—imagine it once securing a noblewoman's coiffure or fastening a garment, a subtle sparkle amid the bustle of imperial life. Roman glassmaking reached extraordinary heights from the 1st century BCE onward, with techniques like core-forming and molding allowing for affordable yet sophisticated items like th...