Art Institute of Chicago

Bottle

Ancient Mediterranean

Date

1st-3rd century

Medium

Glass, blown technique

Culture

Mediterranean Region

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

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 CE, 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 cheaper and less labor-intensive production, making it affordable to people of lesser means. This container would have been just one object among the array of mirrors, combs, palettes for mixing cosmetics, bottles and other containers used to beautify well-to-do Romans.

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