Art Institute of Chicago

Kohl Container

Byzantine; Eastern Mediterranean

Date

5th-6th century

Medium

Glass, blown technique

Culture

Palestine

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Byzantine glassmakers refined the techniques they inherited from their Roman predecessors, creating objects with increasingly elaborate forms and complex decorative elements to flaunt their skills. Cosmetic containers like this one were often adorned with fine strands (trails) of glass that required a steady hand and rapid execution, while other vessels look quite complex yet were easily made. Glass continued to be used in objects of personal adornment such as jewelry, both as a material in its own right and to imitate precious stones, offering more affordable options for what was in fashion.

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