Cylindrical Jug

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Cylindrical Jug

Place of OriginRoman Empire, probably Syria or Palestine

Date4th-6th century CE

DimensionsH: 5 7/16 in. (13.8 cm); Rim Diam: 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm); Body Diam: 2 1/2 in. (6.35 cm)

MediumGlass; mold blown, applied decoration, applied handles

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.960

Not on View

DescriptionThis glass jug was shaped in a mold and finished by hand. It has a cylindrical body with vertical ridges and a single handle that loops from the shoulder to the rim. Thin threads of glass are wrapped around the neck and the mouth. The glass is a pale green color, and the marks of the shaping process can still be seen.

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.