Square Bottle

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Square Bottle

Place of OriginRoman Empire

Date1st century CE

DimensionsH: 3 5/8 in.; W: 2 in.; D: 1 7/8 in.; Rim Diam: 1 1/4 in.; Handle height: 1 3/8 in.

MediumGlass; mold blown, tooled, applied handle

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.952

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

DescriptionThis small square bottle was made in ancient Rome during the 1st century CE using mold-blown glass. Its body was formed in a single mold, while the neck and rim were shaped by hand. Made from dark blue glass, it features a folded rim, a tall neck, and a square body with a handle stretching from the shoulder to the rim. Pinprick bubbles are visible in the glass, especially in the neck.

Label TextAlthough practical containers, the bottles displayed here have a subtle beauty which is enhanced by the vibrant blue and green glass used to make them. These bottles were formed using a technique called mold-blowing where a molten glass bubble was blown into a mold, forcing the bubble to conform to the mold’s shape. This technique allowed glass to be utilized as a medium for mass production by guaranteeing a standardization of shape, while at the same time giving the glassblower the option to add free-formed details such as handles.