Glass cinerary urn with lid
Urn: Translucent blue green; handles in same color.
Everted tubular rim, folded over and in, and smoothed into side of mouth; funnel-shaped neck; ovoid body; splayed hollow foot; almost flat bottom; two vertical, arched M-shaped handles, attached on opposite sides of upper body, each made of a thick trail, applied as a large circular pad, drawn across body from left to right, and trailed off back along top of handle.
Intact; few bubbles, black impurities in handles; slight dulling, faint iridescence, and some soil encrustation on exterior, large patches of soil encrustation and iridescent weathering on interior.
Lid: Translucent pale blue green.
Thick rounded rim, with groove around edge on underside; flat side; hollow cylindrical stem, tapering upwards; circular flattened knob applied at top.
Intact; some pinprick and a few larger bubbles; dulling and slight iridescent weathering, mainly on upper surface.
The lid fits snugly in the mouth on the upper side of neck. The pattern of weathering suggests that the lid sat upright on the urn.
When placed in a tomb, the glass cinerary urn was often enclosed in a stone vessel or lead canister for safekeeping. Many examples have been excavated from tombs in Italy, Gaul, and Britain, although not all included (as here) a lid.
Everted tubular rim, folded over and in, and smoothed into side of mouth; funnel-shaped neck; ovoid body; splayed hollow foot; almost flat bottom; two vertical, arched M-shaped handles, attached on opposite sides of upper body, each made of a thick trail, applied as a large circular pad, drawn across body from left to right, and trailed off back along top of handle.
Intact; few bubbles, black impurities in handles; slight dulling, faint iridescence, and some soil encrustation on exterior, large patches of soil encrustation and iridescent weathering on interior.
Lid: Translucent pale blue green.
Thick rounded rim, with groove around edge on underside; flat side; hollow cylindrical stem, tapering upwards; circular flattened knob applied at top.
Intact; some pinprick and a few larger bubbles; dulling and slight iridescent weathering, mainly on upper surface.
The lid fits snugly in the mouth on the upper side of neck. The pattern of weathering suggests that the lid sat upright on the urn.
When placed in a tomb, the glass cinerary urn was often enclosed in a stone vessel or lead canister for safekeeping. Many examples have been excavated from tombs in Italy, Gaul, and Britain, although not all included (as here) a lid.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass cinerary urn with lid
- Period: Imperial, Flavian or Trajanic
- Date: 1st–early 2nd century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass; blown
- Dimensions: H.: 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.1297a, b
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
late 1st–2nd century CE
Ennion
1st half of 1st century CE
3rd century CE
ca. 50–80 CE
1st half of 1st century CE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.