2012.479.1
Object Title
Glass head flask
Measurements
Height: 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm), Other (width of head): 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm), Diameter: 2 5/16 x 2 1/2 in. (5.9 x 6.3 cm)
Creation Date
4th century A.D.
Credit Line
Gift of Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer, 2012
Museum Name
Culture
Country of Origin
Object Type
Materials / Techniques
Object URL
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/257874
Provenance Information
With Toufik Arakji, Beirut and Hamburg; acquired by George Ortiz, Geneva; acquired from George Ortiz by exchange by Phoenix Ancient Art, New York, circa 1975; purchased by Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer from Phoenix Ancient Art on March 13, 1996; given by Renée E. and Robert A. Belfer to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2012.
Exhibition Information
The work has been on loan to, and on display at, The Metropolitan Museum of Art since April 2007.
Publication Information
None.
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 on loan to, and on display at, The Metropolitan Museum of Art since 2007. The flask, belonging to the later Roman period, is one of the best of its type in the world and arguably the best preserved example of a small number of known vessels that were blown in the same or very similar molds. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has nothing closely comparable in its collection.