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Glass needle
Translucent light blue, with opaque white trail.
Solid rod, circular in cross section, tapering at one end to point, the other worked into two prongs to form the eye of the needle and then joined and drawn up to a point.
The head of the needle is decorated with an opaque trail, applied at point and wound spirally down, ending just below the eye.
Intact, except for tip of the head of the needle; most of surfaces covered with thin whitish weathering.
Although examples have been found in Roman contexts at sites spread across the entire Empire, their precise purpose remains unclear. They may have served as hairpins or, possibly, cosmetic applicators. They are unlikely to have been used as real needles.
Solid rod, circular in cross section, tapering at one end to point, the other worked into two prongs to form the eye of the needle and then joined and drawn up to a point.
The head of the needle is decorated with an opaque trail, applied at point and wound spirally down, ending just below the eye.
Intact, except for tip of the head of the needle; most of surfaces covered with thin whitish weathering.
Although examples have been found in Roman contexts at sites spread across the entire Empire, their precise purpose remains unclear. They may have served as hairpins or, possibly, cosmetic applicators. They are unlikely to have been used as real needles.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass needle
- Period: Early Imperial
- Date: 1st century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass; drawn and tooled
- Dimensions: H. 6 1/8 in. (15.5 cm); diameter 3/16 in. (0.5 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
- Object Number: 74.51.156
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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