# Bottle

- By: Ancient Mediterranean
- Date: 1st century
- Medium: Glass, blown technique
- Classification: Vessel
- Dimensions: 11.4 × 4.4 cm (4 1/2 × 1 3/4 in.); Diam.: 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in.)
- Culture: Mediterranean Region
- Credit line: Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/61913)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/c2f7954d-b251-b9e5-35c6-8ee40c7ae13f/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome as containers for oils, perfume, and tablewares. The variety of glass-making techniques reveals the changing tastes and fashions over the centuries. During the 1st century CE, cast glass was a novel form that was a luxury for the Roman household, but by the end of the century, the innovation of blown glass allowed for less labor-intensive and less expensive production, which meant people of lesser means could afford it. Blown glass became so popular it nearly supplanted ceramic and even bronze wares in the home.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0