Date-shaped Bottle
Date: Mid-first to early second century
Dimensions:
H: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); Rim Diam: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); Body Diam: 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
Medium: Glass; mold blown in a two-part mold, tooled
Place of Origin: Phoenicia
Classification: Glass
Credit Line: Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1923.589
Label Text:The date palm tree was one of the prized plants of the Mediterranean world as its fruit was so useful and delicious—even the pits were used for fuel. First made in the Roman Imperial period, glass vessels in the shape of dried dates were incredibly popular for holding perfume or medicines.
Most likely, a real dried fruit was used to make a mold of clay or plaster and then glass was blown into the mold to create the vessel. The neck and rim would have been tooled and added to the body. These objects were often included in burials as personal items for the deceased.
Most likely, a real dried fruit was used to make a mold of clay or plaster and then glass was blown into the mold to create the vessel. The neck and rim would have been tooled and added to the body. These objects were often included in burials as personal items for the deceased.
DescriptionTranslucent yellowish brown. Medium thin glass. Numerous small spherical and vertically elongated bubbles.
Rim tooled. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections. One continuous mold seam around body, extends onto both sides of neck (MCT VIII).
Everted rim, folded inward and downward. Flaring neck. Body shaped like a date with an irregular cross section.
Relief pattern of wavy ridges and hooks, imitating the wrinkles in the skin of a ripe date.
Translucent yellowish brown.
Rim tooled. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections. One continuous mold seam around body, extends onto both sides of neck (MCT VIII).
Everted rim, folded inward and downward. Flaring neck. Body shaped like a date with an irregular cross section.
Relief pattern of wavy ridges and hooks, imitating the wrinkles in the skin of a ripe date.
Rim tooled. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections. One continuous mold seam around body, extends onto both sides of neck (MCT VIII).
Everted rim, folded inward and downward. Flaring neck. Body shaped like a date with an irregular cross section.
Relief pattern of wavy ridges and hooks, imitating the wrinkles in the skin of a ripe date.
Translucent yellowish brown.
Rim tooled. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections. One continuous mold seam around body, extends onto both sides of neck (MCT VIII).
Everted rim, folded inward and downward. Flaring neck. Body shaped like a date with an irregular cross section.
Relief pattern of wavy ridges and hooks, imitating the wrinkles in the skin of a ripe date.
On view
In Collection(s)