Pentagonal Jug

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Pentagonal Jug

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, probably Syria

DateSixth to early seventh centuries

DimensionsH: 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm); Diam (rim): 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm); Diam (body): 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm); W Base: 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm)

MediumMold blown; applied decoration and handle. Medium thin glass.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1351

Not on View

DescriptionTransparent natural pale green (near 5 G 7/2). Similarly colored thread. Translucent yellowish green handle (not in rock color chart). Medium thin glass. Blowing spirals. A few small and medium vertically elongated bubbles in neck. Mouth and neck free blown. Body probably blown into a multipart mold with a base plate. Relief crisp. Pontil mark ca. 1.6 cm in diameter. Excess glass at tip of handle folded back against top of handle (before it was folded); tool mark at fold of handle. Circular mouth, with rim folded outward, upward, and inward. Tubular neck. Shoulder slightly sloped. Pentagonal body with downward taper. Kicked base. Curved coil handle applied to shoulder over end of neck coil above panel 3 and attached to edge of rim where it is folded downward/inward and upward/outward to form a closed loop. Around lower half of neck, four revolutions of thread trailed on downward from left to right. On the body, five 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 twelve curved leaves on each side; 4, same as panel 2; 5, stylized palm branch with twelve curved leaves on the left side and eleven on the right side. On underside of base, in sunken outline, a rosette with five petals. Transparent natural pale green (near 5 G 7/2). Similarly colored thread. Translucent yellowish green handle (not in rock color chart).

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. 183, p. 262-263, color pl. 29, p. 63.