Object Image

Glass phiale (libation bowl)

Unknown Artist

Colorless with light yellow-green tinge.

Flaring rim with rounded edge; concave neck; curving side, tapering sharply to convex bottom.

On exterior, one horizontal cut groove on underside of rim; another uneven groove around neck; on side, extending to bottom, a pattern of four pointed petals, each with two parallel vertical grooves extending from base to apex, alternating with four vertical bands of six parallel grooves; on bottom, a circle disk with an six-pointed rosette at center.

Intact, but with many internal strain cracks; pinprick bubbles; slight dulling and patches of faint iridescent weathering on exterior, some retaining impression of a pattern resembling woven textile.

Rotary grinding marks on interior.

Credit: Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881

Late 4th century B.C.
Glass; cast and cut
15.1 x 15.1cm
81.10.34
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018

Where you'll find this

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection