Glass needle

Unknown

1st century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent light blue, with opaque white trail. Solid rod, circular in cross section, tapering at one end to point, the other worked into two prongs to form the eye of the needle and then joined and drawn up to a point. The head of the needle is decorated with an opaque trail, applied at point and wound spirally down, ending just below the eye. Intact, except for tip of the head of the needle; most of surfaces covered with thin whitish weathering. Although examples have been found in Roman contexts at sites spread across the entire Empire, their precise purpose remains unclear. They may have served as hairpins or, possibly, cosmetic applicators. They are unlikely to have been used as real needles.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76