Glass beaker with snake-thread decoration

Unknown

ca. 3rd century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Colorless with pale green tinge; trails in same color. Tall beaker or goblet, with side tapering downwards and curving in at base; stem consists of a solid, slightly convex knob; broad, shallow foot, made from a separate gather is concave, with rounded, thickened edge, and small central pontil scar. On body, three vertical abstract floral sprays, comprising stems and broad, down-turned leaves, applied as separate trails, all flattened and decorated with crisscross patterns, and one small additional spray near bottom on one side. Broken and repaired, with some weathered broken edges; all of rim and much of body missing, but foot intact; a few bubbles; slight dulling and patches of brilliant iridescent weathering.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 3rd century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917