Cylindrical Cup with Mold-blown Inscription

Place of OriginProbably Syro-Palestine

DateFirst half of 1st century

DimensionsH: 2 5/8 (6.6 cm); Rim Diam: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); Rim Thickness: 1/2 in. (1.2 cm); Base Diam (rec.): 2 7/16 in. (6.25 cm); Max Body Thickness: 1/16 in. (0.20 cm)

MediumMold-blown glass.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.411

Not on View

DescriptionCylindrical cup made from transparent glass with a natural dusky yellow-green tint (5 GY 5/2). The thin-walled vessel contains a few small spherical and elongated bubbles and was mold-blown in a three-part mold: two vertical sections joined to a disk-shaped base (MCT VII). Vertical mold seams run from rim to base through palm leaf motifs; the relief is sharply defined. The rim is outsplayed and unworked. The body displays three decorative friezes separated and bordered by single horizontal ridges. The central frieze carries a Greek inscription in relief: (ΛΑΒΕ ΤΗΝ // Ν)ΕΙΚΗΝ (labe tēn neikēn), meaning “Seize the victory.” The inscription is framed by two opposed palm leaves. The upper and lower friezes each contain six stylized wreaths made of concentric circles with radial lines and wavy ties at the bottom.

Published ReferencesdeVillefosse, H., Memories de la Societé nationale des Antiquaries de France, 1904, pp. 278-280.

Perdrizet, P., "Verres de Sidon donnés en prix dans des concours," Mémoires de la Société nationale des antiquaires de France, ser. 7, vol. 65, 1904-1905, p. 291ff., Class 1B, nos. 5-8.

Harden, Donald B., "Romano-Syrian Glasses with Mould-blown Inscriptions," Journal of Glass Studies, vol. 25, 1935, p. 178, Group K1iiie.

Stern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-Blown Glass: The First Through Sixth Centuries, Rome, Italy, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider in association with the Toledo Museum of Art, 1995, cat. no. 2, pp. 98-99.

Comparative ReferencesSee also Matheson, Susan B., Ancient Glass in the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Conn. 1980) p. 53, no. 134, erroneously cited as 1923.412 (Cat. No. 3).