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Double Tube with Zigzag and Basket Handle

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Image Not Available for Double Tube with Zigzag and Basket Handle
Double Tube with Zigzag and Basket Handle
Image Not Available for Double Tube with Zigzag and Basket Handle

Double Tube with Zigzag and Basket Handle

Place of OriginAncient Rome, Palestine
DateSixth to early seventh century
DimensionsH: 7 7/8 in. (20.1 cm); Rim Diam: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm); Body Diam: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
MediumGlass; free-blown and tooled.
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.1310
Not on View
DescriptionThis free-blown and tooled glass vessel, classified as a Quadruple Tube VIIIB4a, consists of a rectangular body formed by four tubular compartments bundled together. The rim is partially folded inward and partially rounded in the flame. The glass is transparent natural pale green (near 10 G 6/2 but more yellow) with translucent dusky blue-green handles and thread. The vessel is made of medium thin glass with pinprick bubbles in the body. The pontil mark is about 1.5 cm in diameter. The body is pinched twice lengthwise. A freestanding zigzag coil is applied to the upper body from left to right, forming nineteen segments between the upper body and rim, then continuing downward as a wound thread for approximately six revolutions. A new thread was then applied, trailing on for about seventeen additional revolutions from left to right down to just above the base. The thread decoration was applied after the body was pinched. A three-dimensional, triple-tiered basket handle made from at least seven coils with flattened sections crosses over the top. The first tier consists of one continuous coil attached to the rim between two compartments and secured on the opposite side, with a cross-element of two coils applied to the rim and attached at the center of the continuous coil. The second tier repeats this structure, mounted directly on top of the first tier, with a continuous coil and two half-elements above the elements below. A third continuous coil forming the upper tier is now missing. Excess glass at the tips of the handles is drawn back against the handle or drawn down along the lower tier. Tool marks are visible at the tops of the basket handle segments.

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