Bulbous Bottle with Two Handles

Place of OriginSyro-Palestinian

DateFirst century

DimensionsH: 3 1/16 in. (7.78 cm); H (Body): 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm); Max Diam: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); Rim Diam: 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm); Base Diam: 7/8 in. (2.25 cm)

MediumNeck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections (MCT VIII).

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.494

Not on View

DescriptionMedium thin glass. Fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. Translucent dark royal blue. Two opaque buff white handles. One continuous mold seam extends across underside of base. Edges of mold not carefully aligned; therefore, base is in two planes. Tips of handles drawn out thin and folded back. Everted rim, rounded and thickened in flame; tool mark on interior along about three-quarters of rim. Cylindrical neck. Ovoid body. Base intended to be flat. Two coil handles applied to shoulder and attached halfway up neck. Handles positioned adjacent to seams. Friezes of about twenty-three downturned raised tongues on upper body, some entirely covered by handle attachment, and twenty-five upturned tongues on lower body joined by a central band of large tendril scrolls bordered above and below by two raised ridges. Translucent dark royal blue. Two opaque buff white handles. Neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections (MCT VIII). One continuous mold seam extends across underside of base. Edges of mold not carefully aligned; therefore, base is in two planes. Tips of handles drawn out thin and folded back. Everted rim, rounded and thickened in flame; tool mark on interior along about three-quarters of rim. Cylindrical neck. Ovoid body. Base intended to be flat. Two coil handles applied to shoulder and attached halfway up neck. Handles positioned adjacent to seams. Friezes of about twenty-three downturned raised tongues on upper body, some entirely covered by handle attachment, and twenty-five upturned tongues on lower body joined by a central band of large tendril scrolls bordered above and below by two raised ridges.

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. 57, p.153.

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