Double Head-shaped Flask: Two Similar Youthful Faces

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, Possibly Syria or Palestine

DateThird century

DimensionsH: 3 3/8 in. (8.7 cm); Rim Diam: 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); Diam: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm); Base Diam: 1 7/16 in. (3.6 cm)

MediumGlass; rim and upper part of neck free blown. Lower part of neck and body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, probably open at the base (MCT IX).

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.460

Not on View

DescriptionTransparent natural yellow green; exact color cannot be determined because of weathering. Medium thin glass. Fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. Mold seams concealed in hair at junction of heads. No mold seam on underside of base. Relief moderately crisp. No pontil mark. Horizontal rim, folded outward, upward, inward, and flattened. Tubular neck, with bulge on one side above constriction marking top of mold (about two thirds of the way down 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 serious features. Face A has a prominent browline, large round bulging eyes, narrow nose, and slightly parted straight lips. Face B appears squashed: it has heavy planar features consisting of a prominent browline, protruding eyes, wide flat nose, massive cheeks, and wide chin with hardly any tuck under chin to throat. The hair around both faces is rendered predominantly as circular knobs, with some ridges of connected knobs above the forehead, framing the faces to below chin level. Transparent natural yellow green; exact color cannot be determined because of weathering. Double Head-shaped Flask: Two Similar Youthful Faces Eastern Mediterranean, possibly Syro-Palestinian Third century H 8.65 cm; H body ( side A) 5.2 cm; H body (side B) 4.9 cm; max D 4.6 cm; D rim 3.3 cm; D base 3.6 cm 1923.460, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey Transparent natural yellow green; exact color cannot be determined because of weathering. Medium thin glass. Fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. Rim and upper part of neck free blown. Lower part of neck and body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, probably open at the base (MCT IX). Mold seams concealed in hair at junction of heads. No mold seam on underside of base. Relief moderately crisp. No pontil mark. Horizontal rim, folded outward, upward, inward, and flattened. Tubular neck, with bulge on one side above constriction marking top of mold (about two-thirds of the way down 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 serious faces. Face A has a prominent browline, large round bulging eyes, narrow nose, and slightly parted straight lips. Face B appears squashed: it has heavy planar features consisting of a prominent browline, protruding eyes, wide flat nose, massive cheeks, and wide chin with hardly any tuck under chin to throat. The hair around both faces is rendered predominantly as circular knobs, with some ridges of connected knobs above the forehead, framing the faces to below chin level.

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. 155, pp. 236-237.

Arts, P.L.W., "A Collection of Ancient Glass 500 BC - 500 AD," ANTIEK Lochem, 2000, p. 112.