Krater (Mixing Vessel)

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, probably Egypt

Date250-175 BCE

DimensionsH: 7 in. (17.7 cm); Diam. (rim) 18 5/8 in. (21.9 cm)

Mediumcast and lathe-cut glass

ClassificationGlass

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1980.1000

Not on View

Collections

Glass

Published ReferencesGrose, David F., "Innovation and change in ancient technologies: The anomalous case of the Roman glass industry," in High-technology Ceramics, Westerville, OH, 1986, p. 68, fig. 3, p. 69, repr.

Grose, David F., Early Ancient Glass: Core-formed, Rod-Formed, and Cast Vessels and Objects from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Roman Empire, 1600 B.c. to A.d. 50, New York, Hudson Hills Press in association with the Toledo Museum of Art, 1989, Catalog No. 183, p. 198, repr. (col.) p. 177, drawing, p. 409.

Page, Jutta-Annette, The Art of Glass: Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, Toledo Museum of Art, 2006, p. 24, repr. (col.) p. 25.

Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art Masterworks, Toledo, 2009, p. 74, repr. (col.).

Lierke, Rosemarie, Die nicht-geblasenen antiken Glasgefaesse, Offenbach/Main, Deutsche glastechnische Gesellschaft, 2009, pp. 31, 34, repr. (col.).

Label TextOne of the treasures of TMA’s ancient glass collection, this krater is unparalleled because of its early date, large size, and elegant form. It appears to be one of the earliest examples of magnificent Hellenistic Greek tablewares, which were produced before the invention of glass blowing. It was cast in a mold from a large “blank” of glass, then lathe-cut and polished to make an astoundingly thin vessel wall. The concept of complete tableware services in glass for serving and consuming food and drink was new and glassmakers rose to supply the market with luxurious objects.