Glass bowl with cut decoration
Colorless.
Uneven, slightly inverted, ground rim; hemispherical body; slightly flattened but round bottom.
Wheel-cut decoration on exterior: immediately below rim band of three parallel horizontal lines, the central one being broader than the two flanking lines; on body, continuous frieze of four standing figures, alternating with vertical columns: each figure faces front with head turned in profile to left, wearing tunic with vertical stripes and holding long-stemmed plants in both hands outstretched to either side, and the columns are rendered with three vertical grooves, with capitals and bases represented by two horizontal grooves; on bottom, a rosette or star with eight radiating lines.
Intact; very few bubbles; dulling, iridescence, and patches of limy weathering.
A number of bowls with very similar cut decoration are known from the Rhineland. As exemplified here, some of these show figures engaged in a form of pagan procession or dance, but others have Christian associations. These four figures carry bunches of grapes and raised objects, possibly long tapers or castanets, and each is flanked by stylized columns.
Uneven, slightly inverted, ground rim; hemispherical body; slightly flattened but round bottom.
Wheel-cut decoration on exterior: immediately below rim band of three parallel horizontal lines, the central one being broader than the two flanking lines; on body, continuous frieze of four standing figures, alternating with vertical columns: each figure faces front with head turned in profile to left, wearing tunic with vertical stripes and holding long-stemmed plants in both hands outstretched to either side, and the columns are rendered with three vertical grooves, with capitals and bases represented by two horizontal grooves; on bottom, a rosette or star with eight radiating lines.
Intact; very few bubbles; dulling, iridescence, and patches of limy weathering.
A number of bowls with very similar cut decoration are known from the Rhineland. As exemplified here, some of these show figures engaged in a form of pagan procession or dance, but others have Christian associations. These four figures carry bunches of grapes and raised objects, possibly long tapers or castanets, and each is flanked by stylized columns.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass bowl with cut decoration
- Period: Late Imperial
- Date: 4th century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass; blown, cut, and abraded
- Dimensions: H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm) diameter 3 9/16 in. (9 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881
- Object Number: 81.10.240
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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3rd century CE
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late 1st–2nd century CE
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ca. 50–80 CE
Ennion
1st half of 1st century CE
Roman
2nd century CE
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