Spherical Jar with Three Handles
Spherical Jar with Three Handles
Place of OriginAncient Rome, probably Palestine
DateLate fourth to late fifth century
DimensionsH: 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Rim Diam: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); Body Diam: 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm)
MediumGlass; free blown and tooled, decoration hot-tooled on.
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.1032
Not on View
DescriptionThis spherical jar, classified as Jar Class ID2a with a blue zigzag, is free-blown and decorated with hot-tooled details. The medium thin glass shows blowing spirals throughout. The transparent natural blue-green glass, including the translucent handles and thread, has weathered so its exact color cannot be determined. The pontil mark measures about 1.5 cm in diameter. Excess glass at the tips of the three angular coil handles was clipped off, and one handle split during application.
The jar has a collar rim, rounded in flame, set above an open cutout. The deeply concave neck curves smoothly into a strongly sloped shoulder. The spherical body sits on a concave base. Around the middle of the body, a zigzag thread with twenty-two segments continues for one revolution, overlapping the top of the zigzag. Along the edge of the base is an additional trail of thread.
Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, "Roman Glassblowing in a Cultural Context," American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 103, no. 3, July 1999, p. 482, fig. 31, p. 483.Mid-fourth to mid-fifth century
Fourth century
Second to third quarter of fourth century CE
Mid-fourth to mid-fifth century
Second to third quarter of fourth century CE
Probably mid-fourth to mid-fifth century
Late fourth to late fifth century
Mid-fourth to mid-fifth century
Probably mid-fifth to mid-sixth century
Late 4th-5th century CE
Fourth century
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