Image

Unknown Maker, Roman

Patella Cup

Now On View

Description

Maker

Culture

Roman

Title

Patella Cup

Period

Imperial (Roman)

Year

1st century BCE-1st century CE

Medium

glass,
mold-pressed

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

glass,
mold-pressed

Geography

Place Made: Eastern Mediterranean

Dimensions

Height: 4.8 cm (1 7/8 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

11.768

Type

Glass

Exhibition History

Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries

Sep 22, 2010

Label copy

Most likely used as a small bowl or drinking cup, a patella typically features a convex bowl and a larger convex rim. This example was formed by a method known as mold-pressing, in which a sheet of molten glass is slumped into the hollow half of a mold and pressed into shape using the mold’s other half. The deep blue color of the cup was a common choice for glass in ancient times.

Glass from the Museum's Collection

Jan 17, 1973 – Mar 10, 1974

Use & Feedback

Image use

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This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Roman

Patella Cup, 1st century BCE-1st century CE

Glass, mold-pressed

Height: 4.8 cm (1 7/8 inches)

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke 11.768

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