Double Head-shaped Jug with Crimped Handle: Two Childlike Faces, One Serious, One Smiling

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Double Head-shaped Jug with Crimped Handle: Two Childlike Faces, One Serious, One Smiling

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, probably Syria or Palestine

DateFourth century

DimensionsH: 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm);
Rim Diam: 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm);
Diam: 2 5/16 in. (5.8 cm);
Base Diam: 1 7/16 in. (3.7 cm);
H Body: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)

MediumGlass; free blown, mold blown body

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.742

Not on View

DescriptionTranslucent to transparent manganese colored grayish red purple (near 5 RP 4/2, but more red). Similarly colored neck coil and handle. Medium thin glass. Fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. Rim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, probably open at the base (probably MCT IX). Mold seams concealed in hair at junction of heads. Edges of mold not carefully aligned. No mold seam on underside of base. Relief moderately crisp. No pontil mark. Neck squashed at base where it was held with the left hand between the round legs of a clamping tool (tongs?). Unworked everted rim, with slight bulge below. Funnel neck. Body in the shape of a double head. Nearly circular, irregularly flattened base. Ribbon handle with four crimps, originating from neck coil and attached to shoulder. Neck coil around middle of neck from right to left. Body in the shape of two heads back to back: one serious face, A, and one smiling face, B. Face A has arched browlines, well-proportioned nose and mouth, and chubby childlike cheeks. The chin-length hair is rendered as distinct, evenly spaced knobs arranged in three (in some places four) tiers. Face B has wide round eyes, turned-up nose with recessed nostrils, and a smile which is reflected in the bulging cheek muscles. The chin-length hair is rendered as evenly spaced knobs arranged in three tiers. Translucent to transparent manganese colored grayish red purple (near 5 RP 4/2, but more red). Similarly colored neck coil and handle.

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. 161, pp. 241-242.