1968.23

Flask

Purchased. Ht 9.7cm; diam. 6cm.

Mould-blown glass flask (so-called sprinkler), the spherical body covered with a reticulate pattern. The flask originally had a foot of which slight traces remain. The surface is iridescent from deterioration.

This piece, like 1968.24, was formed by taking a quantity of molten glass from the furnace on an iron tube and blowing it into a mould. The join between the two halves of the mould can clearly be seen. The foot was then added as a separate piece of molten glass.

Probably third century AD. These vessels are usually Syrian or inland Palestinian.

For examples of slightly different form with reticulate decoration, see E.M. Stern, The Toledo Museum of Art. Roman Mold-Blown Glass. The First through Sixth Centuries (Rome 1995) nos 129 and 130. She includes discussion and further references. Note also S.H. Auth, Ancient Glass at the Newark Museum (Newark 1976) 78 no. 81 (with refs).

Bought from Museum Mesopotamia, Beirut.

J.R. Green with B. Rawson, Catalogue of Antiquities in the Australian National University, A.N.U. (Canberra, 1981) 113.