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Ovoid Bottle with Stylized Grape Pattern

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Ovoid Bottle with Stylized Grape Pattern

Place of OriginAncient Rome, Probably Syria or inland Palestinian
DateProbably third century
DimensionsH: 5 1/16 in. (12.9 cm);
H body: 3 5/16 in. (8.35 cm);
Diam: 2 5/8 in. (6.7-6.65 cm);
Diam Rim: 1 1/8 in. (2.8-2.6 cm);
Diam Base: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
MediumMedium thin glass.
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.1077
Not on View
DescriptionThis translucent light olive-brown bottle (near 5 Y 5/6) was mold-blown in a three-part mold for the body and shoulder collar and free blown for the neck and projecting roll. The bottle has a triangular hollow rim folded downward, outward, upward, and inward. The tall cylindrical neck constricts at its base where it meets a hollow projecting roll above the shoulder collar. The ovoid body rests on a slightly concave base. The surface is decorated with a crisp relief pattern of ten interlocking rows of twenty-one contiguous hemispherical knobs that resemble stylized grapes. Small triangular leaves with a central vein are positioned at the shoulder opposite each other, centered between the mold seams. On the underside of the base, three narrow raised concentric circles can be seen. This vessel belongs to the Stylized Grape Bottle, Series A classification.
Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: the First through Sixth Centuries, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider in Association with the Toledo Museum of Art, Rome, Italy, 1995, cat. no. 120, p. 191-192, colorpl. 19, p. 57.

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