Period: Early Imperial, Augustan or Julio-Claudian
Date: late 1st century B.C.–early 1st century A.D.
Culture: Roman
Medium: Glass
Dimensions: H. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); diameter 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm)

Opaque pale blue.
Trefoil rim with beveled outer lip; concave, slightly oval neck, joining imperceptibly with ovoid body; integral splayed base ring on low concave pedestal, with broad flat edge around concave bottom; integral handle rising from body to edge of back of rim, with angular outer profile and central vertical rib, loop rising above rim with upward projecting thumb-rest.
On base ring, raised horizontal molding around base of body, a pronounced angular raised molding at top of base ring, and a band of three rounded raised horizontal lines forming molding at outer edge of base ring; on the carved handle: a raised diamond-shaped area at base of handle imitating an attachment plate; a flat diamond shape incised with two cross lines as base finial to handle; a recessed area at top of handle where it curves in towards rim; a thumb-rest in relief with central rib and tapering towards back of handle; at either side of handle on rim splayed wings with curving finials.
Intact, except for front of thumb-rest, which is chipped; dulling, some pitting of surface bubbles, and faint iridescence, with a patch of limy enrustation on underside of base ring.

This elegant jug, whose shape imitates that of a metal vessel, shows how quickly the newly founded Roman glass industry mastered its medium. It represents a transitional phase in glassmaking, when casting and cutting, and blowing techniques were used. The jug's handle was cold-carved and the base was cut on a lathe, but the body seems to have been blown. A similar combination of techniques is found on some examples of early Roman cameo glass, notably the British Museum’s Portland Vase.