Glass cup in the shape of a Black African's head
Translucent pale blue green.
Uneven knocked-off, slightly inverted rim; flaring neck; plastic body; flaring base with circular, flat bottom. Mold seams visible to either side of face, slightly misaligned on proper right side, extending to the top of the body.
Body in the shape of a Black African head with hair arranged in vertical plaits; there are eleven short plaits over the forehead, two longer plaits in front of his ears, and four tiers of fifteen long plaits on the back of his head; he wears a wreath, tied at the back of his head and extending above his ears to his forehead, consists of leaves and berries; his brow are knit, his long eyebrows are arched, his ears are large and well defined, his eyes have small round pupils, his cheeks are plump, his nose is broad, his mouth is open (as if in a grimace), showing his teeth, and his chin is dimpled; he wears small spherical earrings that hang down from the bottom of his ear lobes. On the bottom, three raised, unevenly spaced, concentric circles.
Intact; some bubbles; pitting, creamy weathering, and brilliant iridescence on exterior; thick whitish weathering and iridescence on interior
A small number of other cups probably from the same mold are known.
Uneven knocked-off, slightly inverted rim; flaring neck; plastic body; flaring base with circular, flat bottom. Mold seams visible to either side of face, slightly misaligned on proper right side, extending to the top of the body.
Body in the shape of a Black African head with hair arranged in vertical plaits; there are eleven short plaits over the forehead, two longer plaits in front of his ears, and four tiers of fifteen long plaits on the back of his head; he wears a wreath, tied at the back of his head and extending above his ears to his forehead, consists of leaves and berries; his brow are knit, his long eyebrows are arched, his ears are large and well defined, his eyes have small round pupils, his cheeks are plump, his nose is broad, his mouth is open (as if in a grimace), showing his teeth, and his chin is dimpled; he wears small spherical earrings that hang down from the bottom of his ear lobes. On the bottom, three raised, unevenly spaced, concentric circles.
Intact; some bubbles; pitting, creamy weathering, and brilliant iridescence on exterior; thick whitish weathering and iridescence on interior
A small number of other cups probably from the same mold are known.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass cup in the shape of a Black African's head
- Period: Early Imperial, Flavian
- Date: 2nd half of 1st century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass; blown in a four-part mold
- Dimensions: H.: 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
- Object Number: 29.100.75
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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ca. 50–80 CE
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3rd century CE
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late 1st–2nd century CE
Ennion
1st half of 1st century CE
Roman
2nd century CE
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