Lenticular Bottle
Lenticular Bottle
Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, probably Syria or Palestine
DateProbably first half of the first century
DimensionsH: 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm); Diam: 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm)
MediumGlass; mold blown and tooled
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.415
Not on View
DescriptionThis translucent pale green (5 G 7/2) bottle was mold-blown into a two-part vertical mold (MCT VIII F), leaving a continuous seam around the body’s circumference. Its medium-thin fabric is obscured by weathering. The vessel has a flat-sided circular body with a tubular neck and a convex base, which prevents it from standing upright. Each side displays a raised Medusa face with bulging brows and eyes, a long narrow nose, and small parted lips. The hair is parted at the forehead and drawn back by narrow horizontal bands resembling snakes. The face is surrounded by a ring of raised knobs.
This bottle belongs to a rare group of lenticular vessels featuring Medusa motifs, attributed to the "Workshop of the Floating Handles," known from several mold-blown types. Due to the absence of handles, it is unclear if this bottle originally had them.
Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, Rome, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, 1995, p. 156, no. 62.
Perhaps late first or second century
Probably late third or fourth century
Second half of the 1st century CE
Workshop of the Floating Handles
first half CE 1st century
Late 2nd to early 3rd century CE
Probably late third or fourth century
Third century
3rd-4th century CE
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