Spherical Flask with Collar at Shoulder

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Spherical Flask with Collar at Shoulder

Place of OriginRoman Empire, Eastern Mediterranean, perhaps Syro-Palestinian

DateProbably 2nd century

DimensionsH: 5 7/16 in. (13.8 cm);
H body: 3 1/8 in. (8 cm);
Max Diam: 3 3/16 in. (8.05 cm);
Diam Rim: 1 3/4 in. (4.5-4.4 cm);
Diam Base: 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)

MediumMedium thin glass. Free and mold blown.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1085

Not on View

DescriptionThis flask is made of medium thin glass and appears transparent with a manganese-colored streaked grayish red hue (10 R 4/2). Small pinprick bubbles are visible, elongated vertically within the neck. The neck and mouth were free-blown, while the body was blown into a four-part mold with three vertical sections joined to a disk-shaped base section (MCT III). The relief remains crisp except just above the base. There is no pontil mark. The rim is everted, rounded, and partially thickened in the flame, with a visible tool mark along the interior. A tall tubular neck has a slight bulge above a constriction at its base. The shoulder slopes gently to a horizontal edge above a prominent collar at the shoulder. The spherical body curves smoothly down to a vertical edge above a concave base. On the body, a sunken relief design features nine interlocking circles, each with a dot at its center, bordered above and below by a double row of dots. On the underside of the base, there is a raised circle around a small central knob

Published ReferencesGrose, David F., "Ancient Glass," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News 20 (1978), 67-90, fig. 20.

Grose, David F., "The Origins and Early History of Glass," in D. Klein and W. Lloyd eds., The History of Glass (London 1984) p. 37, ill.

Stern, 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, no. 116, p. 189, colorpl. 18, p. 57.