Cylindrical Cup with Mold-blown Inscription

Place of OriginAncient Rome, probably Syria or Palestine

DateFirst half of first century

DimensionsH: 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); Rim Diam (rec): 2 5/8 in. (6.6 cm); Rim Thickness: 1/16 in. (0.15 cm); Base Diam (rec): 2 3/8 in. (6.0 cm)

MediumGlass; mold-blown.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.410A-B

Not on View

DescriptionCylindrical cup made from translucent streaked dark manganese-colored glass, mold-blown in a two-part vertical mold (MCT VII). The vessel features vertical mold seams running from rim to base, passing through palm leaf motifs. It has an outsplayed, unworked rim and a thin-walled cylindrical body containing a few small spherical bubbles. Three horizontal friezes encircle the body, separated and bordered by single raised ridges. The central frieze bears a Greek inscription in relief: (AABE THN) // NEIKHN (labe tēn neikēn), meaning “Seize the victory.” This text is framed by two opposing vertical palm leaves. The upper and lower friezes each display six stylized wreaths made of two concentric circles with radial lines and wavy ends suggesting tied knots.

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, 65 (1904-1905), 291ff., Class 1B, nos. 5-8.

Harden, Donald B., "Romano-Syrian Glasses with Mould-blown Inscriptions," Journal of Roman Studies 25, 1935, p. 178, Group K1iiih.

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, p. 100, n. 4.

Comparative ReferencesSee also Matheson, Susan B., Ancient Glass in the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Conn. 1980) p. 53, included as a parallel to her no. 134 (reported to have been acquired from Azeez Khayat and excavated near Tyre).