Double Head-shaped Bottle: Possibly Dionysos and Satyr

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Double Head-shaped Bottle: Possibly Dionysos and Satyr

DatePerhaps 2nd century

DimensionsH: 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm); H (Body): 1 1/2 in. (3.75 cm); Max Diam: 1 7/16 in. (3.6 cm);
Rim Diam: 13/16 in. (2 cm); Base Diam: 7/8 in. (2.25 cm)

MediumRim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, each including one-half of the base (MCT VIII).

ClassificationGlass

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1923.524

Not on View

DescriptionTransparent grayish green with red streaks near rim. Medium thin glass. Numerous small and medium-sized bubbles, vertically elongated in neck, ovoid in body. Continuous mold seam concealed in hair at junction of heads. No mold seam visible on underside of base; the bottom of this vessel was expanded after extraction from the mold, which caused the seam to blow out. Relief indistinct on lower half of vessel. No pontil mark. Flaring rim, rounded in flame, with tool mark along part of interior. Tubular neck; upper part of neck slightly crooked down to top of head. Body in the shape of a double head. Oval convex base (vessel cannot stand). Body in the shape of two heads back to back: a serious face, A, and a laughing male face, B. Face A is narrow at the forehead, widening toward cheeks. The eyes are small with recessed pupils. The lower half of the face is indistinct. A symposiast's fillet, with two horseshoe-shaped loops rising from it, stretches across the forehead. The hair forms a symmetrical pattern of wavy horizontal lines above and on either side of the face. Face B has full features with deep-set eyes, a broad forehead with a ridge, a broad nose, fleshy cheeks, and wide mouth with dimples at the corners. Sweeping back from the forehead are several tufts of hair and two small curved horns at the corners. The first layer of locks at the side of the face forms a frame; behind it wavy locks form a horizontal pattern. Transparent grayish green with red streaks near rim. Rim and neck free blown. Body blown into a two-part mold of two vertical sections, each including one-half of the base (MCT VIII N). Continuous mold seam concealed in hair at junction of heads. No mold seam visible on underside of base; the bottom of this vessel was expanded after extraction from the mold, which caused the seam to blow out. Relief indistinct on lower half of vessel. No pontil mark. Flaring rim, rounded in flame, with tool mark along part of interior. Tubular neck; upper part of neck slightly crooked down to top of head. Body in the shape of a double head. Oval convex base (vessel cannot stand). Body in the shape of two heads back to back: a serious face, A, and a laughing male face, B. Face A is narrow at the forehead, widening toward cheeks. The eyes are small with recessed pupils. The lower half of the face is indistinct. A symposiastÕs fillet, with two horseshoe-shaped loops rising from it, stretches across the forehead. The hair forms a symmetrical pattern of wavy horizontal lines above and on either side of the face. Face B has full features with deep-set eyes, a broad forehead with a roll, broad nose, fleshy cheeks, and wide mouth with dimples at the corners. Sweeping back from the forehead are several tufts of hair and two small curved horns at the corners. The first layer of locks at the side of the face forms a frame; behind it wavy locks form a horizontal pattern.

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. 144, p. 225-226, photograph, fig. 2.