Dish in the Shape of a Shell
Dish in the Shape of a Shell
Place of OriginPossibly made in Germany, Cologne [Roman Empire]
DateProbably first half of 4th century CE
DimensionsH: 5.0 cm (2 in.); Diam: 15.8 cm (6 7/16 in.); Rim Thickness: 0.24 cm (1/8 in.)
MediumTranslucent deep blue glass; blown in an open one-part, cup-shaped mold, tooled
ClassificationGlass
Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1981.93
Not on View
DescriptionFlaring concave rim, lightly ground; edge partly horizontal, partly sloping outward. Shallow body with circular circumference in the form of a stylized scallop shell.
Nineteen tapering ribs radiate from a well-developed ocellus in a fan pattern imitating the structure of a bivalve.
Translucent to opaque dark cobalt blue.
Blown into an open one-part, cup-shaped mold. No pontil mark. Ground.
Flaring concave rim, lightly ground; edge partly horizontal, partly sloping outward. Shallow body with circular circumference in the form of a stylized scallop shell.
Nineteen tapering ribs radiate from a well-developed ocellus in a fan pattern imitating the structure of a bivalve.
Label TextShell-shaped dishes have a long tradition in ancient tablewares. In the Near East and Egypt, natural shells were carved and enhanced while other precious materials were carved or cast into the form of shells and used to contain food and offerings. In Roman times, such bivalve shell-shaped dishes may have been used to serve a popular savory fish sauce.Published ReferencesLuckner, Kurt T., "Recent Acquisitions of Ancient Glass at the Toledo Museum of Art," Decorative Arts Society Newsletter, vol. 8, nos. 2 and 3, 1982, p. 10-11.
"Recent Important Acquisitions," Journal of Glass Studies, vol. 24, 1988, repr. p. 88, no. 6.
Grose, David, "The Origins and early history of glass," in The History of Glass, London, 1984, repr. col. p. 33.
Stern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, no. 137, p. 199-200, colorpl. 20, p. 58.
Page, Jutta-Annette, The Art of Glass: Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio, Toledo Museum of Art, 2006, p. 35, repr. (col.) p. 34.
Probably second quarter of the 1st century
First half of the 1st century
Mid-1st century
2nd-3rd century CE
Probably second half of the 1st century
Late 6th to 5th century BCE
Late 6th - 5th century BCE
Second half of the 1st century CE
Second half of the 1st century CE
Late 6th through 5th century BCE
3rd century BCE
Late 1st century BCE to early 1st century CE
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