Date-shaped Bottle

Place of OriginPhoenicia

DateMid-first to early second century

DimensionsH: 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); Rim Diam: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); Body Diam: 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)

MediumGlass; mold blown in a two-part mold, tooled

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.589

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

DescriptionThis glass bottle is shaped like a date and decorated with ridges and hooks that mimic the wrinkles of the fruit. The glass is yellowish brown and contains small air bubbles from the blowing process. It was made in a two-part mold, and the seam runs visibly along the body and neck. The rim is folded inward and downward, and the neck flares outward.

Label TextThe date palm tree was one of the prized plants of the Mediterranean world as its fruit was so useful and delicious—even the pits were used for fuel. First made in the Roman Imperial period, glass vessels in the shape of dried dates were incredibly popular for holding perfume or medicines. Most likely, a real dried fruit was used to make a mold of clay or plaster and then glass was blown into the mold to create the vessel. The neck and rim would have been tooled and added to the body. These objects were often included in burials as personal items for the deceased.Published ReferencesStern, E. Marianne, Roman Mold-blown Glass: The First through Sixth Centuries, Rome, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, 1995, p. 176, no. 95.

Arts, P.L.W., "A Collection of Ancient Glass 500 BC - 500 AD," ANTIEK Lochem, 2000, p. 107.