Double Head-shaped Bottle: One Serious Face, One Smiling Face
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for Double Head-shaped Bottle: One Serious Face, One Smiling Face
Double Head-shaped Bottle: One Serious Face, One Smiling Face
Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, perhaps Syro-Palestinian
DateLate first to early second century
DimensionsH: 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm); H (body): 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); Max Diam: 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm);
Rim Diam: 13/16 in. (2 cm); Base Diam: 7/8 in. (2.3 cm)
Rim Diam: 13/16 in. (2 cm); Base Diam: 7/8 in. (2.3 cm)
MediumMedium thick glass. A few black specks. Blowing spirals.
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.536
Not on View
DescriptionOpaque white. Medium thick glass. A few black specks. Blowing spirals.
Rim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, each including one-half of the base (MCT VIII M). One continuous mold seam concealed in hair at junction of heads, extends across underside of base. Relief moderately crisp. No pontil mark.
Everted rim, folded outward, upward, inward, and downward. Tubular neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Circular flat base, with circular groove on the underside.
Body in the shape of two heads back to back: a serious face, A, and a smiling face, B. The serious face A is more idealized than the smiling face. The eyes have recessed pupils, the nose is straight and narrow, and the lips are horizontal and slightly parted. A curved fillet stretches across the forehead at the temples; curls and hook-shaped locks of hair fall over it. Beside the cheeks straight coils of hair are held in place by two diagonal wing-shaped locks on either side. The smiling face B is more round, broad, and full than face A. It has protruding eyes with recessed pupils, a wide flat nose, and full cheeks. The hair is distinctive for two locks, parted at the center of the forehead, that curve horizontally across the top of the forehead, then curl downward and inward above the temples like hooks. The other locks of hair around the face are also hook-shaped.
Opaque white.
Rim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, each including one-half of the base (MCT VIII M). One continuous mold seam concealed in hair at junction of heads, extends across underside of base. Relief moderately crisp. No pontil mark.
Everted rim, folded outward, upward, inward, and downward. Tubular neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Circular flat base, with circular groove on the underside.
Body in the shape of two heads back to back: a serious face, A, and a smiling face, B. The serious face A is more idealized than the smiling face. The eyes have recessed pupils, the nose is straight and narrow, and the lips are horizontal and slightly parted. A curved fillet stretches across the forehead at the temples; curls and hook-shaped locks of hair fall over it. Beside the cheeks straight coils of hair are held in place by two diagonal wing-shaped locks on either side. The smiling face B is more round, broad, and full than face A. It has protruding eyes with recessed pupils, a wide flat nose, and full cheeks. The hair is distinctive for two locks, parted at the center of the forehead, that curve horizontally across the top of the forehead, then curl downward and inward above the temples like hooks. The other locks of hair around the face are also hook-shaped.
Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, 1995, no. 141, p. 221-222, color pl.23, p. 60.
Perhaps 2nd century
Late 19th century
Late 2nd to early 3rd century CE
Probably late third or fourth century
Second half of the first century CE
Perhaps late first or second century
Second half of the 1st century CE
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