Hexagonal Bottle, Masks Type, Series A

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Hexagonal Bottle, Masks Type, Series A

Place of OriginPhoenicia

DateProbably second quarter of the 1st century

DimensionsH: 3 7/16 in. (8.8 cm); Rim Diam: 1 in. (2.6 cm); Diam: 1 9/16 in. (3.95 cm); Base Diam: 7/8 in. (2.3 cm)

MediumThick glass; opaque white. Neck free blown. Body blown into a three-part mold of three vertical sections (MCT IV).

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.431

Not on View

DescriptionThis thick-walled bottle, classified as Masks Type, Series A1, Generation A1a, is made of opaque white glass. The neck was free-blown, and the hexagonal body formed in a three-part vertical mold (MCT IV A); seams are visible between panels 2–3, 4–5, and 6–1 and converge at the flat base’s center. Relief is moderately crisp and mold edges carefully aligned. The rim is folded outward, upward, and inward. The tall cylindrical neck features a basal constriction and connects to a convex shoulder and bottom. On the shoulder is a blurred floral motif, possibly a pomegranate or lotus. Each of the six body panels, framed by a narrow band with simplified egg-and-dart motif, contains a distinct theatrical mask: 1) Medusa (Rondanini type, upright wings), 2) youthful slave, 3) old man with pointed beard, 4) Pan or paniskos, 5) short-haired figure (possibly mourning), and 6) a kingly bearded figure. The base is decorated with alternating rounded and pointed leaves.

Published ReferencesRichter, G.M.A., "The Curtis Collection of Ancient Glass," Art in America 2 (1914) p. 85, fig. 10.

Lightfoot, Christopher S., "A Group of Early Roman Mold-Blown Flasks from the West," Journal of Glass Studies, vol. 29, 1987, p. 21, no. 11, fig. 6, p. 15 (incorrectly describing the panels as showing two repeated sets of three masks).

Engle, Anita, "New light on the Sidonian glassmakers," Readings in Glass History, no. 21, Jerusalem, 1988, fig. 56, p. 88.

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. 41, pp. 135-137, col. pl. 5 and 8, pp. 52 and 53.

Puma, Richard Daniel de, Art In Roman Life: Villa to Grave, Rome, L'erma di Bretschneider, 2009, p. 92, repr. (col.) p. 93, fig. 49.