Glass portrait head of a woman
Semi-opaque streaky blue.
Hollow block pressed into an open mold with irregular tooling marks on inside and ground flat edges around top of head.
Shaped by mold and then details added by carving: long flowing headdress in two folds above hair, falling onto shoulder; hair parted at the center and arranged in flowing locks to either side; arched brows; well-defined eyes with eyelids and upward-looking pupils; straight nose with flaring nostrils; small mouth with pursed lips; small chin; part of dress visible on proper right collar.
Broken across bottom and up proper left side; pinprick and some larger bubbles; pitting of surface bubbles and patches of creamy brown weathering.
This portrait, in glass imitating rare and valuable lapis lazuli, was made by pressing the glass into an open mold. It probably represents the goddess Juno (Greek Hera), the consort of Jupiter Capitolinus, and must have been set up in either a public temple or a rich private sanctuary.
Hollow block pressed into an open mold with irregular tooling marks on inside and ground flat edges around top of head.
Shaped by mold and then details added by carving: long flowing headdress in two folds above hair, falling onto shoulder; hair parted at the center and arranged in flowing locks to either side; arched brows; well-defined eyes with eyelids and upward-looking pupils; straight nose with flaring nostrils; small mouth with pursed lips; small chin; part of dress visible on proper right collar.
Broken across bottom and up proper left side; pinprick and some larger bubbles; pitting of surface bubbles and patches of creamy brown weathering.
This portrait, in glass imitating rare and valuable lapis lazuli, was made by pressing the glass into an open mold. It probably represents the goddess Juno (Greek Hera), the consort of Jupiter Capitolinus, and must have been set up in either a public temple or a rich private sanctuary.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass portrait head of a woman
- Period: Mid Imperial
- Date: 1st half of 2nd century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass; mold-pressed and carved
- Dimensions: H.: 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1959
- Object Number: 59.11.8
- 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.