Glass spindle whorl

ca. 1st–2nd century CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
Translucent cobalt blue, with opaque white trail.
Tall, domed body; flat bottom; vertical hole, larger on bottom.
Trail applied to upper surface and tooled with seven unevenly spaced downward strokes to form feather pattern.
Intact but chips on lower edge and bottom; some dulling, pitting, and faint iridescent weathering.
Made by winding trail in a spiral around rod.

Black opaque spindle-whorl with white glass thread pattern.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Glass spindle whorl
  • Period: Early to Mid Imperial
  • Date: ca. 1st–2nd century CE
  • Culture: Roman
  • Medium: Glass; rod-formed, trailed, and tooled
  • Dimensions: Overall: 3/8 x 7/8in. (1 x 2.2cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
  • Object Number: 74.51.334
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.