Squat Piriform 'Splashed' Jug with One Handle

Place of OriginAncient Rome

Date1st century CE

DimensionsH: 8 5/8 in. (20.8 cm); Rim Diam: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); Body Diam: 5 11/16 in. (14.5 cm)

MediumFree blown, applied and marvered decoration; applied handles.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1500

Not on View

DescriptionMedium thick glass. Numerous pinprick and small spherical bubbles; the yellow glass is full of bubbles. Blue body; handle blue with yellow streaks; opaque yellow, opaque red and opaque white decoration; flat rim; neck widens toward shoulder; handle with three ribs extends from neck to shoulder; spherical body; decorated with glass chips, forming splatter effect. Transparent royal blue. Opaque yellow (near 5 Y 7/6), opaque white, and a few opaque red chips. Handle of similar colors (without red). Free-blown. No pontil mark. Colored chips picked up, blown out with vessel, and melted completely into surface. Tip of handle drawn out thin and folded back. Rim folded outward, flattened and rounded in flame. Tall tapering neck and constriction at its base. Squat piriform body. Base flattened with depression in center. Trifurcated handle from center of body to rim. Medium-sized yellow flecks (approximately 0.9 - 0.5 cm in diameter) and small white and red flecks (approximately 0.2 - 0.1 cm in diameter) on body and neck. On handle, yellow and white flecks drawn out over length of handle. CLASSIFICATION

Published ReferencesGrose, David, "Ancient Glass," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, vol. 20, no. 3, 1978, p. 78, fig. 14 (ill).

Grose, David, "The Formation of the Roman Glass Industry," Archaeology, vol. 36, no. 4, July/Aug., 1983, repr. (col.) p.39.

Grose, David F., "Innovation and Change in Ancient Technologies: The Anomalous Case of the Roman Glass Industry," in High-technology Ceramics, Westerville, OH, 1986, p. 77, fig. 16.