Bulbous Jar with Zigzag Neck Coil

Place of OriginAncient Rome, probably Palestine

DateProbably fourth century

DimensionsH: 3 9/16 in. (9 cm); Rim Diam: 2 15/16 in. (7.4 cm); Body Diam: 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm)

MediumGlass; free blown, tooled, applied decoration

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.1023

Not on View

DescriptionThis bulbous jar (classified as Jar Class IB2a) is made from medium thick free-blown glass with a few pinprick bubbles visible throughout. The body is transparent manganese-colored dusky red (near 5 R 3/4) with a translucent similarly colored zigzag and thread decoration. A pontil mark, approximately 1.5 cm in diameter, remains on the base. An added coil and thread were applied, with excess glass at the end of the zigzag folded back and up against a segment of the zigzag. The jar has a collar rim, rounded in flame, set above an open cutout. The neck is deeply concave with a smooth transition to a horizontal shoulder. The bulbous body reaches its greatest diameter at the shoulder and tapers down to a concave base. A freestanding zigzag coil was trailed on from left to right with seventeen segments between shoulder and rim. On the body, three trails are pinched together to form a decorative chain pattern.