Object Title
A pair of glass drinking cups
Measurements
Height (a ): 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm) a: 5 1/8 × 3 1/4 in. (13 × 8.3 cm) Diam. of foot: 1 9/16 in. (4 cm) Height (b): 4 in. (10.2 cm) b: 5 1/16 × 3 1/2 in. (12.9 × 8.9 cm) Diam. of foot: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm)
Creation Date
1st century A.D.
Credit Line
Gift of Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer, 2012
Culture
Country of Origin
Object Type
Materials / Techniques
Object URL
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/257878
Provenance Information
Acquired by Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer as a pair from Gawain McKinley, London, before 1996. Given by Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012.
Exhibition Information
The work has been on loan to, and on display at, The Metropolitan Museum of Art since April 2007.
Publication Information
Lightfoot, Christopher S. 2014. "Recent Acquisitions, A Selection: 2012-2014." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, 72(2): p. 13.
Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970
Gift or bequest expected or on loan prior to 2008
Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above
This object has a provenance established to 1996 and has been loan to, and on display at, The Metropolitan Museum of Art since 2007. The preservation of a matching pair of ancient glass vessels is extremely unusual and fortuitous. Their shape and so-called “blobbed” decoration make these two drinking cups especially attractive. The Metropolitan Museum of Art does not have any other examples of the “blobbed” technique; this example is exceptional for its beauty, importance and presentation.