Cosmetic Applicator

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

4th-6th century

Ancient Mediterranean

Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome to create tableware and containers for oils and perfume. This delicate applicator would have been just one object among the array of mirrors, combs, and palettes for mixing cosmetics, as well as bottles and other containers for products used to beautify prosperous Romans.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Culture: Ancient Mediterranean
Title: Cosmetic Applicator
Place: Mediterranean Region (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 301 CE–600 CE
Medium: Glass
Dimensions: 10.8 × 0.6 cm (4 1/4 × 1/4 in.); Diam.: 0.6 cm (1/4 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
Reference Number: 1949.1112
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/67390/manifest.json

Wanda Odell, “Ancient Glass: The Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Robinson Collection, Gallery 5A, The Art Institute of Chicago,” 1940, unpublished catalogue in curatorial object file, Art Institute of Chicago.

Art Institute of Chicago, Ancient Glass, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Robinson Collection, June 28, 1940 –January 1, 1941.

Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson, Chicago, by 1931; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1949.

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.