Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
Byzantine glassmakers refined the techniques they inherited from their Roman predecessors, creating objects with increasingly elaborate forms and complex decorative elements to flaunt their skills. Cosmetic containers like this one were often adorned with fine strands (trails) of glass that required a steady hand and rapid execution, while other vessels look quite complex yet were easily made. Glass continued to be used in objects of personal adornment such as jewelry, both as a material in its own right and to imitate precious stones, offering more affordable options for what was in fashion.
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Ancient Roman — Flask
England — Bottle
Ancient Mediterranean — Amphoriskos (Container for Oil)
Dutch, Flemish, or German (Rhenish) — Beaker (Passglas)
Ancient Roman — Bottle
Ancient Roman — Flask
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Possibly English — Bottle
Ancient Roman — Bottle
Ancient Levantine — Bottle
Ancient Roman — Bottle
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