Hexagonal Jug with Unassigned Symbols

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Hexagonal Jug with Unassigned Symbols

Place of OriginRoman Empire, Palestine, near Jerusalem

DateLate 6th to early 7th century

DimensionsH: 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); Rim Diam: 1 3/16 in. (3.0 cm); Body Diam: 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm)

MediumGlass; mold blown and tooled.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1357

Not on View

DescriptionThis small hexagonal jug is made of medium thin glass that is transparent to translucent dark brownish-yellow in color. Its true fabric cannot be determined because of weathering. The neck was free-blown, while the body was mold-blown with designs in low relief on the interior. The mold seams cannot be detected, but the relief remains crisp. A ring pontil mark about 1.6 cm in diameter is visible on the base. The rim is ground. The jug has a short, slightly convex tubular neck with a constriction at its base, leading to a horizontal shoulder and a hexagonal body that tapers slightly to a slightly concave base. Each of the six rectangular panels on the body is decorated in intaglio and bordered by recessed dots. From left to right, the panels depict: (1) two concentric lozenges with a single recessed dot in their center and recessed dots in each corner of the panel; (2) a stylized palm tree; (3) a stylized tree; (4) two concentric lozenges without a central dot but with a recessed dot in each corner; (5) a stylized tree; and (6) a very stylized palm tree. This jug is classified as Barag C I 3.

Published ReferencesBarag, Dan P., "Glass Pilgrim Vessels from Jerusalem, Pts. II and III," Journal of Glass Studies 13, 1971, p. 49 (C I 3).

Stern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, Rome, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, 1995, p. 258-259, no. 176.