Bulbous Bottle with Four Handles

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Bulbous Bottle with Four Handles

Place of OriginRoman Empire, Palestine

Date6th century

DimensionsH: 7 7/8 in. (20 cm); Rim Diam: 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm); Diam (body): 3 in. (7.6 cm); Base Diam: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)

MediumGlass; free blown, tooled, applied decoration and handles

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1051

Not on View

DescriptionThis bulbous bottle with four handles (Multiple Handled Bottle Class VB3a) is made of medium thick glass. The glass is transparent natural yellowish green (between 10 GY 4/4 and 5 G 5/2), with translucent similarly colored handles and spiral thread. The vessel was free blown with a pontil mark about 2.0 cm in diameter. The thread was added while hot, and the excess glass at the tips of the handles is drawn back against the handle. The rim is rounded and slightly thickened in flame. The neck is tall and tubular with a tool mark at its base. The shoulder is gently sloping, and the bulbous body has its greatest diameter at the shoulder. The high pushed-in foot has a hollow tubular base ring. Four angular coil side handles are applied: two are attached to the upper neck and shoulder, and two to the middle of the neck and shoulder. Around the neck, from the shoulder to just below the rim, are eight revolutions of thick thread trailed upward from left to right.