Hexagonal Jug

Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean, possibly Syria

DateProbably 6th to early 7th century

DimensionsH: 4 1/8 in. (10.4 cm); Diam (rim): 1 3/16 in. (3.05 cm); Diam (body): 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm); W Base: 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm)

MediumExpanded mold blown; tooled; applied handle

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1355

Not on View

DescriptionThis hexagonal jug is made of thin, transparent to translucent dark royal blue glass with a similarly colored handle and neck coil. A few small spherical bubbles are visible in the glass. The rim and neck were free-blown, while the body was probably blown into a multipart mold, possibly without a base plate. The relief decoration is moderately indistinct, perhaps because the vessel was slightly expanded after it was removed from the mold. A solid coil handle was applied to the shoulder above panel two and attached to the upper part of the neck. A coil of glass continues around the upper part of the neck from left to right, extending from the point where the handle attaches. The rim is folded outward, upward, and inward, forming a circular mouth above the tubular neck and slightly sloped shoulder, which has a concavity on one side. The hexagonal body tapers slightly downward to a concave base. The underside of the base is undecorated but shows many small irregularities that may have been produced when the vessel was expanded against a slightly rough surface. A ring pontil mark approximately 0.7 cm in diameter is visible on the base. On the body, six panels display designs in sunken relief: panel one shows two lozenges with a circle in each; panel two shows a lattice pattern; panel three shows dots; panel four repeats the design of panel one; panel five repeats the lattice pattern; and panel six shows a stylized palm branch with six leaves on each side.

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. 184, p. 263.