Truncated Conical Beaker

Place of OriginAncient Rome, Western Mediterranean, perhaps Italy

DateSecond half of first century CE

DimensionsH: 5 11/16 in. (14.5 cm); Diam rim: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); Max Diam: 2 5/16 in. (7.5 cm) ; Diam base: 1 9/16 in. (4.0 cm); Thickness rim: 1/16 in. (0.15 cm)

MediumMedium thin glass.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.912

Not on View

DescriptionThis beaker was made by blowing glass into a decorated mold. The sides are covered with a pattern of arches and shapes including dots, shells, leaves, and ovals. These were formed as part of the mold design. Thin lines were also cut by hand near the rim. The glass has a pale green tint and shows tiny air bubbles.

Published ReferencesGrose, David F., "Ancient Glass," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News 20 (1978) p. 78, fig. 15.

Isings, Clasina, "Glass from the canabae legionis at Nijmegen," Berichten van de Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemondersoek 30 (1980) mentioned by Isings, p. 331.

Berger, L., "Neufund eines Glasbechers der Form Isings 31," Gesellschaft pro Vindonissa. Jahresbericht (1981) 23-28, p. 24, n. 4, 26.

Saldern, Axel von, "Römische Hochschliffgläser," Jahrbüch Des Museums Für Kunst Und Gewerbe Hamburg, Bd. 4, 1985, p. 31, Abb. 12, p. 37.

Grose, David F., "Innovation and change in ancient technologies: The anomalous case of the Roman glass industry," in High-technology Ceramics, Westerville, OH, 1986, p. 77, fig. 17, p. 78.

Stern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-Blown Glass: The First Through Sixth Centuries, Rome, Italy, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider in association with the Toledo Museum of Art, 1995, cat. no. 11, pp. 108-110, color pl. 4, p. 51.