Fragment of Unguent Bottle (Alabastron)
Fragment of Unguent Bottle (Alabastron)
Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, most likely found at Rome
DateFirst century BCE
DimensionsH: 1 11/32 in. (3.4 cm); W: 25/32 in. (2 cm)
MediumAssembled from lengths of cane and cast, probably around a rod; rotary-polished on the exterior.
ClassificationGlass
Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1980.16
Not on View
DescriptionFragment of side of alabastron. Almost vertical, straight side with an upward taper. Gold-band mosaic pattern formed from parallel wavy lengths of five canes set vertically on the body: the first in a golden-yellow ground; the second in a colorless ground encasing shattered gold leaf; the third in a pale purple ground with an opaque white backing; the fourth in an opaque medium blue ground; and the fifth in a dark blue ground with an opaque white backing. This pattern appears to have been repeated three times over the body.
Gold-band mosaic pattern formed from parallel wavy lengths of five canes set vertically on the body: the first in a golden-yellow ground; the second in a colorless ground encasing shattered gold leaf, the third in a pale purple ground with an opaque white
DESCRIPTION Fragment of side of alabastron. Almost vertical, straight side with an upward taper. This pattern appears to have been repeated three times over the body.
TECHNIQUE Assembled from lengths of cane and cast, probably around a rod; rotary-polished on the exterior.
Published ReferencesGrose, David F., Early Ancient Glass: Core-Formed, Rod-Formed, and Cast Vessels and Objects from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Roman Empire, 1600 B.C. to A.D. 50, New York, Hudson Hills Press in association with the Toledo Museum of Art, 1989, cat. no. 226, p. 208, Repr. (col.) p. 184 (ext.).
First century BCE
Early to mid-first century CE
Early to mid-first century CE
Late first century BCE to early first century CE
Early to mid-first century CE
Early to mid-first century CE
Early to mid-first century CE
Early to mid-first century CE
Late first century BCE to early first century CE
Early to mid-first century CE
Late first century BCE to early first century CE
Late first century BCE to early first century CE
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