Date-shaped Bottle
Date-shaped Bottle
Place of OriginPhoenicia
DateMid-1st to early 2nd century
DimensionsH: 2 9/16 in. (6.6 cm); Rim Diam: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); Body Diam: 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm)
MediumGlass; mold blown, tooled
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.591
Not on View
Collections
Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, Rome, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, 1995, p. 175, no. 92.
- Glass
Arts, P.L.W., "A Collection of Ancient Glass 500 BC - 500 AD," ANTIEK Lochem, 2000, p. 107.
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.
Mid-1st to early 2nd century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
Mid-first to early second century
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