Unguent Bottle (Alabastron)
Unguent Bottle (Alabastron)
Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean or Italy
DateMid-4th through early 3rd centuries BCE
DimensionsH: 2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm); Diam: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); Max Diam of Body: 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
Mediumglass
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.108
Not on View
DescriptionThis miniature alabastron features a golden-brown ground with opaque white decoration. The vessel has a moderately broad horizontal rim-disk, a cylindrical neck that tapers downward, and a distinct, short right-angled shoulder with a constriction at the neck. Its cylindrical body tapers slightly upward to a convex, almost pointed bottom. Two vertical golden-brown ring handles are attached below the shoulder. An unmarvered opaque white thread is applied at the rim, while a second, partly marvered opaque white thread begins on the shoulder, wound in a wavy horizontal line. This thread is then tooled into a festoon pattern that extends to the lower body, where it is again wound in horizontal lines to the basal angle. The bottle is core-formed, with applied handles, rim-disk, and both unmarvered and partly marvered threads.
Published ReferencesGrose, David F., Early Ancient Glass: Core-Formed, Rod-Formed, and Cast Vessels and Objects from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Roman Empire, 1600 B.C. to A.D. 50, New York, Hudson Hills Press in association with the Toledo Museum of Art, 1989, Cat. No. 140, p. 158-159, Repr. (col.) p. 102.
5th century BCE
Late 6th through 5th century BCE
late 6th through 5th century BCE
6th-5th century BCE
5th century BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd century BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd centuries BCE
2nd through mid-1st century BCE
Mid-4th through early third centuries BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd century BCE
4th-3rd century BCE
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