Art Institute of Chicago

Bottle

Ancient Roman

1st century

Attribution

Roman; coast of Syria or Palestine

Medium

Glass, mold-blown technique

Physical dimensions

7.9 × 4.5 × 4.2 cm (3 1/8 × 1 3/4 × 1 5/8 in.)

Credit line

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

From the museum

Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome as containers for oils, perfume, and tablewares. The variety of glass-making techniques reveals the changing tastes and fashions over the centuries. During the 1st century A.D., cast glass was a novel form that was a luxury for the Roman household, but by the end of the century, the innovation of blown glass allowed for less labor-intensive and less expensive production, which meant people of lesser means could afford it. Blown glass became so popular it nearly supplanted ceramic and even bronze wares in the home.

Description: Art Institute of Chicago · CC BY 4.0