Bulbous Jar

Place of OriginAncient Rome, possibly Palestine

DatePossibly fourth century

DimensionsH: 1 15/16 in. (4.9 cm); Rim Diam: 1 5/8 in. (4.2 cm); Body Diam: 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm)

MediumGlass; free blown and tooled.

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.812

Not on View

DescriptionThis small bulbous jar (Jar Class IA5a) was free-blown and tooled from medium thin glass. The surface contains numerous pinprick, small, and medium-sized bubbles, as well as visible blowing spirals. The glass is translucent to transparent dark royal blue, though its exact color is not recorded in standard color charts. The rim is folded outward, upward, and inward. The short funnel neck shows a slight constriction at its base and transitions into a strongly sloped shoulder. The bulbous body reaches its greatest diameter below the midpoint. The concave base has a low kick and retains a pontil mark measuring approximately 1.2 cm. REMARKS See acc. 23.0811. No parallel with color and shape known from a controlled excavation. A vessel with indentations excavated at Beth Govrin is reported to be dark blue, but from the publication it is not possible to say whether it is the same color as this jar.