Vessel in the Shape of a Fish

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Vessel in the Shape of a Fish

Place of OriginRome

Date3rd-4th century CE

DimensionsL: 3 11/16 in. (9.3 cm); W: 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm)

MediumGlass; free blown with applied decoration

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1066

Not on View

DescriptionThis small vessel is free-blown from thin glass, though the fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. Blowing spirals are visible. The glass is transparent with a natural grayish green tint (between 10 GY 5/2 and 5 GY 7/2). The added decorative bits for the fins and eyes are similarly colored and translucent. No pontil mark is visible. The bits were applied and tooled while hot. The vessel is shaped like a fish with an open mouth. The rounded rim is drawn up on two sides to resemble the jaws of a fish. The shoulder slopes strongly, and the bulbous body is slightly flattened with its greatest diameter below the shoulder. The base is pinched flat and tooled outward to form flaring fins. Additional bits of glass were added to represent the eyes and the top and bottom fins.