Miniature Squat Piriform Jug on Base Ring

Place of OriginRoman Empire, probably Syria

DateProbably second half of 4th to early 5th century CE

DimensionsH: 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); Rim Diam: 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); Body Diam: 2 in. (5.1 cm); Base Diam: 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm)

MediumGlass; free-blown and tooled.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1040

Not on View

DescriptionMiniature squat piriform jug (Jug Class IA3a with coil handle IA2a). Free-blown and tooled from medium thin glass, transparent to translucent dusky yellow (near 5 Y 6/4) with a similarly colored translucent handle, coil, and threads. The fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. Roughness on the underside of the base coil probably indicates wear. It has a flaring circular mouth with a rim rounded in flame, a cylindrical neck with a curved transition to its base, a sloping shoulder, and a squat piriform body with a tooled kick in the base and a base coil. A straight plain coil handle is applied to the shoulder and attached to the top of the rim, folded downward to form a closed loop against the side of the mouth. Ten revolutions of spiral coil run from just below the rim to the base of the neck. A zigzag thread decorates the lower part of the body, running from left to right. Excess glass at the tip of the handle is folded up and back, then cut off.