Double Head-shaped Flask: One Smiling Face, One Serious Face

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Double Head-shaped Flask: One Smiling Face, One Serious Face

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, possibly Syria or Palestine

DateThird century

DimensionsH: 3 1/8 in. (8.0 cm); H (body): 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm); Max Diam: 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); Rim Diam: 1 9/16 in. (4.0 cm); Base Diam (nose to nose): 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm)

MediumRim 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

1923.514

Not on View

DescriptionTransparent dusky yellow green (near 5 GY 5/2). Medium thin glass. Numerous vertically elongated bubbles in neck; some oval bubbles in body; one large bubble in base. Black specks. Blowing spirals. Mold seams concealed in hair at junction of heads. No mold seam on underside of base. Relief relatively indistinct; lower part of face B deformed during blowing. No pontil mark. Flaring hollow rim, folded outward, upward, and inward. Tubular neck tapering downward, with constriction marking top of mold below middle of neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Nearly square flat base. Body in the shape of two heads back to back: one smiling face, A, and one serious face, B. Face A has rounded, childlike features: prominent browline, wide ring-shaped eyes, fat cheeks, and dimples at the corners of the mouth. The hair around the face is rendered as three tiers of small regular knobs framing the face to below chin level. Face B is elongated, with an indistinct droll expression, large protruding eyes, and a long triangular nose. Mouth and chin are indistinct. The hair around the face is rendered as irregular ridges and knobs framing the face to below chin level. Transparent dusky yellow green (near 5 GY 5/2). 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 relatively indistinct; lower part of face B deformed during blowing. No pontil mark. Flaring hollow rim, folded outward, upward, and inward. Tubular neck tapering downward, with constriction marking top of mold below middle of neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Nearly square flat base. Body in the shape of two heads back to back: one smiling face, A, and one serious face, B. Face A has rounded, childlike features: prominent browline, wide ring-shaped eyes, fat cheeks, and dimples at the corners of the mouth. The hair around the face is rendered as three tiers of small regular knobs framing the face to below chin level. Face B is elongated, with an indistinct droll expression, large protruding eyes, and a long triangular nose. Mouth and chin are indistinct. The hair around the face is rendered as irregular ridges and knobs framing the face 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. 156, pp. 237-238.

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