Unguent Bottle (Oinochoe)
Unguent Bottle (Oinochoe)
Place of OriginEastern Mediterranean or Italy
DateMid-4th through early 3rd centuries BCE
DimensionsH: 5 1/16 in. (12.8 cm); Rim Diam: 1 9/16 in. (3.9 cm); Max Diam of Body: 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); Base Diam: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
Mediumglass
ClassificationGlass
Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number
1923.136
Not on View
DescriptionThis oinochoe, made using the core-forming technique, features a dark blue ground (appearing black) with white speckles and opaque yellow and white decoration. It has a broad trefoil rim-disk, a cylindrical neck tapering slightly downward, and an obtuse-angled transition to a rounded shoulder. The straight-sided cylindrical body tapers downward to a circular pad-base, which is asymmetrical, uneven, and slightly concave on its underside. A vertical strap handle, arching above the rim-disk, extends from the shoulder to the rim.
An unmarvered opaque yellow thread is applied at the rim, followed by another unmarvered yellow thread wound in nearly horizontal spirals around the upper neck. A third opaque yellow thread, marvered, begins on the shoulder and is tooled first into a wavy line, then into several festoons, and finally into a feather pattern extending toward the base. Alternating with this are bands of marvered opaque white thread, both colors ending in loops. An additional unmarvered opaque yellow thread encircles the edge of the pad-base. The vessel was created by applying marvered and unmarvered threads, in addition to its applied handle, rim-disk, and base.
Published ReferencesHayes, John W., Roman and Pre-Roman Glass in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1975, p. 12.
Grose, David F., Early Ancient Glass: Core-Formed, Rod-Formed, and Cast Vessels and Objects from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Roman Empire, 1600 B.C. to A.D. 50, New York, Hudson Hills Press in association with the Toledo Museum of Art, 1989, cat. no. 148, p. 162.
Exhibition HistoryJohn Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis, IN, Glass Throughout History, exhibition, no. ex. cat., October-December, 1953.
Mid-4th through early 3rd century BCE
about 350-275 BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd century BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd century BCE
Mid-4th to early 3rd century BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd centuries BCE
Mid 4th-early 3rd BCE
Mid-4th through early 3rd centuries BCE
Late 6th through 5th century BCE
Late 6th through 5th centuries BCE
Late 4th-early 3rd BCE
4th-3rd century BCE
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