Cylindrical Cup with Mold-blown Inscription

Place of OriginProbably Syro-Palestinian

DateFirst half of first 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

DescriptionTransparent natural dusky yellow green tint (5 GY 5/2). Thin glass. A few small spherical and vertically elongated bubbles. Blown into a three-part mold with two vertical sections joined to a disk-shaped base section (MCT VII); vertical mold seams from rim to base through palm leaves. Relief crisp. Outsplayed unworked rim. Cylindrical body. On body, three friezes separated and bordered by single horizontal ridges. The central frieze contains an inscription in Greek. The upper and lower friezes each contain six stylized wreaths consisting of two concentric circles joined by radial lines; wavy lines below each wreath indicate the ends below the knot. Two diametrically opposed palm leaves divide the inscription into two almost equal parts: AABE TH(N / / N)EIKHN (labe ten neiken), "seize the victory." Transparent natural dusky yellow green tint (5 GY 5/2). Blown into a three-part mold with two vertical sections joined to a disk-shaped base section (MCT VII); vertical mold seams from rim to base through palm leaves. Relief crisp. Outsplayed unworked rim. Cylindrical body. On body, three friezes separated and bordered by single horizontal ridges. The central frieze contains an inscription in Greek. The upper and lower friezes each contain six stylized wreaths consisting of two concentric circles joined by radial lines; wavy lines below each wreath indicate the ends below the knot. Two diametrically opposed palm leaves divide the inscription into two almost equal parts: LABE TH(N // N)EIKHN (labe ten neiken), "seize the victory."

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).