Glass head flask
Translucent cobalt blue, with same color handle and base.
Everted rim with cracked off vertical lip; broad funnel-shaped neck, splaying slightly at base; narrow horizontal shoulder; body molded into the shape of a head in the round, with vertical mold marks down sides of head in hair behind ears; below head sides curve in to round bottom; thick trail wound round bottom 3½ times to form splayed base ring; wishbone handle applied to lower half of neck in a large pad, drawn out and up, then tooled into a pinched thumb-rest with acute angle below, and drawn vertically down to back of head and trailed off down to base with decoration of twenty horizontal ribs.
The head portrays a youth with long hair arranged in wavy locks at back, reaching to nape of the neck and behind the ears; fringe of straight locks on his forehead; the head has prominent ears, almond-shaped eyes with inset pupils, and a protruding, thick upper lip, pointed nose, and small chin.
Intact, except for a small chips at proper right side of head and in base ring; slight encrustation and faint dulling.
The head is that of a youth with the large almond-shaped eyes and neat, flowing locks that are typical of Late Roman portraiture.
Everted rim with cracked off vertical lip; broad funnel-shaped neck, splaying slightly at base; narrow horizontal shoulder; body molded into the shape of a head in the round, with vertical mold marks down sides of head in hair behind ears; below head sides curve in to round bottom; thick trail wound round bottom 3½ times to form splayed base ring; wishbone handle applied to lower half of neck in a large pad, drawn out and up, then tooled into a pinched thumb-rest with acute angle below, and drawn vertically down to back of head and trailed off down to base with decoration of twenty horizontal ribs.
The head portrays a youth with long hair arranged in wavy locks at back, reaching to nape of the neck and behind the ears; fringe of straight locks on his forehead; the head has prominent ears, almond-shaped eyes with inset pupils, and a protruding, thick upper lip, pointed nose, and small chin.
Intact, except for a small chips at proper right side of head and in base ring; slight encrustation and faint dulling.
The head is that of a youth with the large almond-shaped eyes and neat, flowing locks that are typical of Late Roman portraiture.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass head flask
- Period: Late Imperial
- Date: 4th century CE
- Culture: Roman, eastern Mediterranean
- Medium: Glass, blue; blown in a two-part mold
- Dimensions: Height: 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)
Other (width of head): 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm)
Diameter: 2 5/16 x 2 1/2 in. (5.9 x 6.3 cm) - Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: Gift of Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer, 2012
- Object Number: 2012.479.1
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Roman
3rd century CE
Roman
late 1st–2nd century CE
Ennion
1st half of 1st century CE
Roman
3rd century CE
Roman
ca. 50–80 CE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.