The Populonia Bottle

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Object Name: 
The Populonia Bottle
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
Overall H: 18.4 cm, Diam (max): 12.3 cm
On Display
Web Description: 
Roman glassmakers normally polished their cut decoration. On some occasions, however, they left these areas rough to create a contrast between the granular surface of the decoration and the smooth surface of the background. This is known as abrasion. The Populonia Bottle is an outstanding example of late Roman abraded decoration. It is one of a group of nine similarly shaped vessels decorated with waterfront scenes and inscriptions. The scenes on some of these vessels depict a lake, a palace, an oyster bed, a jetty, and columns. The inscriptions identify the setting as Baiae, a Roman harbor town and resort on the Bay of Naples. The Populonia Bottle shows famous buildings in and around Baiae. Its name records the findspot, Populonia (near modern Piombino) in Tuscany, where it was discovered about 1812.
Smith, Ray Winfield, Source
Primary Description: 
Corning Museum of Glass
Changing Exhibitions Gallery
Treasures from The Corning Museum of Glass
Glass of the Caesars
Corning Museum of Glass
Romantic Interlude (2003) illustrated, p. 55;