Glass Oinochoe in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 2009

Glass Oinochoe (Jug)
Roman, late 1st century BC- early 1st century AD

Accession # 17.194.170

This elegant jug, whose shape imitates that of a metal vessel, shows how quickly the the newly founded Roman glass industry mastered its medium. It represents a transitional phase in glassmaking, when casting and cutting, and blowing techniques were used. The jug's handle was cold-carved and the base was cut on a lathe, but the body seems to have been blown. A similar combination of techniques is found on some examples of early Roman cameo glass, notably the British Museum's Portland Vase.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.