Roman glass beaker, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 1st century CE

Blown from blue-green glass, the wide cylindrical beaker tapers up to a round mouth and straight rim. Roman glass production developed from Hellenistic technical traditions, initially concentrating on intensely colored cast glass vessels. However, during the 1st century CE the glass industry underwent rapid technical growth that saw the introduction of glass blowing and the dominance of colorless or 'aqua' glasses. Production of raw glass was undertaken in geographically separate locations from the working of glass into finished vessels, and by the end of the 1st century, large-scale manufacturing resulted in the establishment of glass as a commonly available material in the Roman world. Medium: Glass Dimensions: Height: 3 5/8 inches (9 cm), Diameter: 2 1/2 inches (7 cm) Condition: Intact and in excellent condition. Provenance: Private Maryland collection, acquired in Israel in the 1960s, then by descent.