Bulbous Jar

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Bulbous Jar

Place of OriginRoman Empire, Palestine

Date4th century

DimensionsH: 2 11/16 in. (6.9 cm); Rim Diam: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm); Body Diam: 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm)

MediumGlass; free blown and tooled.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.816

Not on View

DescriptionThis vessel, classified as Jar Class IA4a, was formed by free-blowing and tooling thin glass. The transparent manganese-colored glass appears streaky light brownish gray (5 YR 6/1) and was perhaps intended to be decolorized. Blowing spirals are visible on the surface, though the exact fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. No trace of a pontil mark remains; a circular discoloration on the interior of the base appears to be a pontil scar but is not. The rim is rounded in the flame. The funnel-shaped neck transitions smoothly to a strongly sloped shoulder. The bulbous body reaches its greatest diameter at the midpoint and sits on a flattened base with a slight depression at its center. Six irregularly spaced shallow circular indentations decorate the body. REMARKS Jars of Class IA4 have a rim rounded in flame and a funnel neck. No parallel from a controlled excavation is known, but the similarity of this jar to those of Class IA5 (see acc. 23.0811) suggests that it was made in Palestine during the fourth century. A circular discoloration on interior of base appears to be a pontil mark but is not.