Hexagonal Bottle, Birds Type, Series B

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Hexagonal Bottle, Birds Type, Series B

Place of OriginAncient Rome, Probably Phoenicia, perhaps Sidon area

DateProbably mid-first century

DimensionsH: 2 7/8 in. (7.25 cm); Rim Diam: 13/16 in. (2 cm); Max Diam: 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); Base Diam: 7/8 in. (2.3 cm)

MediumGlass; mold blown and tooled.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.461

Not on View

DescriptionThis translucent blue bottle is made of medium thin glass; the fabric cannot be determined due to weathering. The neck was free blown, and the body was formed in a three-part mold with vertical seams meeting at the center of the flat base (MCT IV). Relief is moderately crisp, and the mold edges are carefully aligned. There is no pontil mark. The rim is irregularly folded outward, upward, and inward. The cylindrical neck leads into a hexagonal body with a downward sloping shoulder and an upward sloping bottom. On the shoulder are six rounded arches. The body features six rectangular panels, framed by timber-like structures resembling the Greek letter psi (Ψ), formed by posts and diagonal supports. A smooth slanting band borders the panels at the bottom. Each panel depicts a bird in a distinct pose, perched on or flying near nest-like or rocky forms. The birds include long-necked species, small raptors, and songbirds engaged in feeding young or interacting with foliage. The underside of the base shows twenty-six upturned tongue motifs.

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. 47, pp. 145-146.