Detail from the 9th century A.D.,
Calendar of Wandalbert-Martyriums

Wine Beakers

“You will forgive me if I say that I prefer glass; at least it doesn’t smell. If it were not so breakable, I should prefer it even to gold; as it is, it is so cheap.” (Petronius, Satyricon.50)

As the Roman glassworking industry took shape early in the 1st century A.D., glass’ translucency gave it a certain mystique. Just being able to see the color of a wine was something special that was not possible with pottery (with which glass competed so strongly in the marketplace), or indeed with gold, the choice of the Roman patricians. At the same time, a beaker’s surface could be worked in so many ways, the techniques of lathe-cutting and faceting yielding some particularly attractive effects.

All glassware is shown at a scale of one-to-one unless otherwise stated.

29-105-732
From Beth Shean (Israel), tomb 54
Late 1st century A.D.
Clear colorless
Excavated by G.M. Fitzgerald

29-105-733
From Beth Shean (Israel), tomb 31
Late 1st century A.D.
Light amber
Excavated by G.M. Fitzgerald

86-35-80
Provenance unknown
Late 1st century A.D.
Clear colorless
Gift of George & Henry J. Vaux

86-35-93
Provenance unknown
Mid-to-late 1st century A.D.
Light amber
Gift of George & Henry J. Vaux

MS 4964
Provenance unknown
Mid-to-late 1st century A.D.
Light amber
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

60-11-1
Provenance unknown
Late 3rd-early 4th century A.D.
Clear colorless
Gift of Henry Jones

MS 5121
Provenance unknown
Early 4th century A.D.
Medium green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5551
Provenance unknown
Early 4th century A.D.
Clear colorless, with purple streaks
Gift of Lydia T. Morris

MS 5042
Possibly from Tubas (Syria)
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Purchased from Vestor & Co.

MS 5552
Provenance unknown
Late 4th century A.D.
Light green; light green
Gift of Lydia T. Morris

Introduction

Unguentaria 1st-3rd

Unguentaria 4th +

Cosmetics

Oil Flasks

Galena Flasks

Small Cups

Jars

Dishes/Bowls

Jugs/Flasks

Wine Beakers

Bottles

Lamps etc.

Mold Blown/Decorated

Contacts/Credits