Hexagonal Bottle, Vessels Type, Series B

Place of OriginProbably Eastern Mediterranean

DateProbably mid- to second half of 1st century

DimensionsH: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); Rim Diam: 13/16 in. (2.1 cm); Diam: 1 7/8 in. (4.7 cm); Base Diam: 1 in. (2.5 cm)

MediumGlass; neck free blown. Body blown into a three-part mold of three vertical sections (MCT IV). Mold seams between panels 2 and 3, 4 and 5, and 6 and 1 meet at center of underside of base. Relief moderately crisp.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.430

Not on View

DescriptionThis hexagonal bottle, classified as Vessels Type, Series B1, Generation B1a, is composed of polychrome glass featuring a mixture of colors ranging from opaque to translucent brownish black (5 YR 2/1), light brownish gray (near 5 YR 6/1), white (or light gray), and moderate yellowish brown glass (near 10 YR 5/4), with a predominantly opaque white interior. The neck is free-blown, and the body was formed in a three-part vertical mold (MCT IV A); mold seams run between panels 2–3, 4–5, and 6–1 and meet at the center of the flat base. The rim is folded outward, upward, inward, and flattened. The tall cylindrical neck transitions into a convex shoulder and a nearly cylindrical body, which joins a convex bottom and flat base. On the shoulder, six rounded arches each frame a dome-shaped element with a central depression. The body features six rectangular panels separated by rudimentary columns, each containing a different vessel: footed jugs with handles, wide stemmed bowls with looped handles containing upright objects, and handled jars. The lower zone is decorated with alternating triangular petals and large ovoid fruit or leaves, positioned below each column. Relief is moderately crisp.

Published ReferencesStern, 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. 34, pp. 127-128, Colorpl. 6, p. 52.

Arts, P.L.W., "A Collection of Ancient Glass 500 BC - 500 AD," ANTIEK Lochem, 2000, p. 103.