Amphoriskos (Small Amphora) (50–100 CE): Art, History and Details

Amphoriskos (Small Amphora) (50–100 CE) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

First blown in a mold, then supplied with separately made handles, this small vessel likely held perfumed oil, a valuable commodity. Originally violet in color, its surface is now partially marred by areas of buff and iridescent weathering. The finely ribbed body is quite elegant, however, and its extravagant modern box attests to its significant value for a modern owner (prior to 1919).

Object facts

• Title: Amphoriskos (Small Amphora)
• Date: 50–100 CE
• Culture: Roman
• Type: Glass
• Technique: glass, mold-blown
• Dimensions: Diameter: 2.5 cm (1 in.); Overall: 7.5 x 3.5 cm (2 15/16 x 1 3/8 in.)
• Collection: GR - Roman
• Department: Greek and Roman Art
• Accession number: 1919.12

A detail from the museum

Although much smaller, glass amphoriskoi (“small amphorae”) are similar in form to ceramic transport amphorae.

Collection credit

General Income Fund

Further reading listed by the museum

• "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 6, no. 2 (1919): 37-38.
• Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York. Ancient Works of Art...Collected by Azeez Khayat. January 31 - February 1, 1919. Lot 271

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.