Double Head-shaped Flask: Two Similar Female Faces

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Double Head-shaped Flask: Two Similar Female Faces

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, perhaps inland Palestine or Syria

DateProbably late second century

DimensionsH: 4 1/2 in. (11.5 cm); H (Body): 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); Max Diam: 2 1/2 in. (6.3 cm); Rim
Diam: 1 15/16 in. (5.0 cm); Base Diam (along the seam): 1 9/16 in. (4.0 cm)

MediumRim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, each including one-half of the base (MCT VIII).

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.525

Not on View

DescriptionTransparent streaked manganese colored pale red purple (5 RP 6/2). Medium thin glass. A few small spherical and vertically elongated bubbles in neck and body; several large vertically elongated bubbles in neck. Blowing spirals. Continuous mold seam concealed in hair at junction of heads, extends across underside of base. Relief moderately indistinct. Ring pontil about 1.8 cm in diameter. Hollow flaring rim, folded outward, upward, and inward. Slightly concave tubular neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Nearly circular flat base. Body in the shape of two heads back to back with similar features: large round ring-shaped eyes, high knobby cheek bones, small nose with short bridge, small mouth with small straight lips, and prominent knobby chin. The features of face B were flattened and distorted, probably during removal from the mold. The hair around both faces has four characteristic knobs above the forehead and rounded tufts on either side of the face, with irregular ridges aligned horizontally to the mold seam. Transparent streaked manganese colored pale red purple (5 RP 6/2). Rim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, each including one-half of the base (MCT VIII N). Continuous mold seam concealed in hair at junction of heads, extends across underside of base. Relief moderately indistinct. Ring pontil about 1.8 cm in diameter. Hollow flaring rim, folded outward, upward, and inward. Slightly concave tubular neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Nearly circular flat base. Body in the shape of two heads back to back with similar features: large round ring-shaped eyes, high knobby cheek bones, small nose with short bridge, small mouth with small straight lips, and prominent knobby chin. The features of face B were flattened and distorted, probably during removal from the mold. The hair around both faces has four characteristic knobs above the forehead and rounded tufts on either side of the face, with irregular ridges aligned horizontally to the mold seam.

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, cat. no. 145, pp. 226-227.