Hexagonal Jug

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, probably Syria

DateSixth to early seventh centuries

DimensionsH: 5 1/16 in. (12.9 cm); Diam (rim): 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm); Diam (body): 2 9/16 in. (6.7 cm)

MediumMold blown; tooled; applied thread and decoration.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1365

Not on View

DescriptionTransparent dusky yellow (near 5 Y 6/4). Translucent brown coil and handle. Thin glass. A few vertically elongated bubbles in neck. Black specks in handle. Mouth and neck free blown. Body probably blown into a multipart mold with a base plate. Relief crisp. Pontil mark ca. 1.1 cm in diameter. Excess glass at tip of handle folded back against top of handle. Circular mouth, with rim folded outward, upward, and inward. Tubular neck. Shoulder slightly sloped. Hexagonal body with slight downward taper. Kicked base. Curved coil handle applied to shoulder above panel 3 and attached to edge of rim where it is folded downward/inward and upward/outward to form a closed loop. Around middle of neck, neck coil from left to right. On the body, six decorated rectangular panels with designs in sunken relief. In the panels, from left to right: 1, two and a half lozenges with a circle in the center of each; 2, lattice; 3, stylized palm branch with eight leaves on each side; 4, same as panel 1; 5, same as panel 2; 6, stylized palm branch with eleven leaves on each side. On underside of base, in sunken outline, a star with six forked arms. Transparent dusky yellow (near 5 Y 6/4). Translucent brown 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. 181, p. 262, color plate 29, p. 63.