Date-shaped Bottle

Place of OriginPhoenicia

DateMid-1st to early 2nd century

DimensionsH: 2 3/4 in. (7.0 cm); Rim Diam: 3/4 in. (1.9 cm); Body Diam: 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)

MediumGlass; mold blown, tooled

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.593

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

DescriptionTranslucent dark royal blue. Medium thin glass. Small bubbles. Rim tooled. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections. One continuous mold seam around body, concealed in the pattern of wrinkles on one side, extends onto both sides of neck (MCT VIII). Everted rim, rolled inward. Short flaring neck. Body shaped like a date with a nearly circular cross section. Relief pattern of short wavy ridges and hooks, imitating the wrinkles in the skin of a ripe date. Translucent dark royal blue. Rim tooled. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections. One continuous mold seam around body, concealed in the pattern of wrinkles on one side, extends onto both sides of neck (MCT VIII). Everted rim, rolled inward. Short flaring neck. Body shaped like a date with a nearly circular cross section. Relief pattern of short wavy ridges and hooks, imitating the wrinkles in the skin of a ripe date.

Label TextThe date palm tree was one of the prized plants of the Mediterranean world as its fruit was so useful and delicious—even the pits were used for fuel. First made in the Roman Imperial period, glass vessels in the shape of dried dates were incredibly popular for holding perfume or medicines. Most likely, a real dried fruit was used to make a mold of clay or plaster and then glass was blown into the mold to create the vessel. The neck and rim would have been tooled and added to the body. These objects were often included in burials as personal items for the deceased.Published ReferencesHayes, John W., Roman and Pre-Roman Glass in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1975, nos. 87-89, (three close parallels dated to "Late 1st-Late 2nd century A.D.").

Stern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, Rome, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, 1995, p. 174, no. 89, color pl. 16.

Arts, P.L.W., "A Collection of Ancient Glass 500 BC - 500 AD," ANTIEK Lochem, 2000, p. 107.

Puma, Richard Daniel de, Art In Roman Life: Villa to Grave, Rome, L'erma di Bretschneider, 2009, p. 92, repr. (col.) p. 93, fig. 48.

Exhibition HistoryCedar Rapids Museum of Art (IA), Art in Roman Life: Villa to Grave, September 2003-August 2005 (no catalog).