Melon-shaped Bottle with One Handle

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, probably Syro-Palestinian

DateProbably second half of 1st century

DimensionsH: 3 3/16 in. (8.05 cm);
H body: 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm);
Max Diam: 2 1/16 in. (5.25 cm);
Rim Diam: 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm);
Base Diam: 1 7/16 in. (3.6 cm

MediumGlass; rim tooled, neck and body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections (MCT VIII C).

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.685

Not on View

DescriptionTranslucent patchy manganese colored glass. Translucent streaked grayish green handle. Medium thin glass. Fabric cannot be detemined because of weathering. Rim tooled. Neck and body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections (MCT VIII C). One continuous mold seam around body and base extends onto either side of neck and follows line of vertical ribs on body. Edges of mold not well aligned. Tip of handle drawn out thin. Rim folded outward, upward, and inward. Concave neck with bulge above edge of mold. Melon-shaped body. Circular flat base. Bifurcated handle applied to shoulder and attached to rim with projecting thumbrest above. Handle centered over mold seam. Around body, seventeen vertical ribs, wider at middle and tapering toward ends. Translucent patchy manganese colored glass. Translucent streaked grayish green handle. Rim tooled. Neck and body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections (MCT VIII C). One continuous mold seam around body and base extends onto either side of neck and follows line of vertical ribs on body. Edges of mold not well aligned. Tip of handle drawn out thin. Rim folded outward, upward, and inward. Concave neck with bulge above edge of mold. Melon-shaped body. Circular flat base. Bifurcated handle applied to shoulder and attached to rim with projecting thumbrest above. Handle centered over mold seam. Around body, seventeen vertical ribs, wider at middle and tapering toward ends.

Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: the First through Sixth Centuries, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider in Association with the Toledo Museum of Art, Rome, Italy, 1995, no. 51, p. 149-150.