Glass spindle whorl

Unknown

ca. 1st–2nd century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent cobalt blue, with opaque white trail. Tall, domed body; flat bottom; vertical hole, larger on bottom. Trail applied to upper surface and tooled with seven unevenly spaced downward strokes to form feather pattern. Intact but chips on lower edge and bottom; some dulling, pitting, and faint iridescent weathering. Made by winding trail in a spiral around rod. Black opaque spindle-whorl with white glass thread pattern.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1st–2nd century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76