Acquisition number: 1978.11
Intact and in fairly good condition save for some wear to the surface, especially in the upper part. Fairly translucent bluish-green glass with aubergine trails. Solidly made, with a thick base, raised in the centre. The body is cylindrical and decorated on the outer face with spirally fluted ribs which continue over onto the shoulder-bulge. (It must have been moulded twice, once for the spiral-work and again for the ribbing.) Fairly long, tapering neck with flaring, everted mouth. A handle of circular section runs from the shoulder to the edge of the lip where it is rather crudely looped. The neck leans away from the handle. There is a trail around the upper part of the neck and another on the edge of the lip.
Title: One-Handled Flask - 1978.11
Acquisition number: 1978.11
Culture or period: Roman Imperial
Date: 5th century AD.
Material: Glass
Object type: Vessels - Flask
Dimensions: 72mm (w) × 180mm (h)
Origin region or location: Syria
Display case or on loan: 9
Keywords: Roman, Imperial, Syria, Glass, Roman Syria
Sotheby (London), Sale Cat., 3 July 1978, no. 48, pl. 8.
1978.11
One-Handled Flask
Purchased. Ht lip 18cm; max. diam. 7.2cm.
Intact and in fairly good condition save for some wear to the surface, especially in the upper part. Fairly translucent bluish-green glass with aubergine trails. Solidly made, with a thick base, raised in the centre. The body is cylindrical and decorated on the outer face with spirally fluted ribs which continue over onto the shoulder-bulge. (It must have been moulded twice, once for the spiral-work and again for the ribbing.) Fairly long, tapering neck with flaring, everted mouth. A handle of circular section runs from the shoulder to the edge of the lip where it is rather crudely looped. The neck leans away from the handle. There is a trail around the upper part of the neck and another on the edge of the lip.
Probably from Syria and of the fifth century AD. Ours has a more elaborate handle than most. There are several comparable jugs in the later part of E.M. Stern, The Toledo Museum of Art. Roman Mold-Blown Glass. The First through Sixth Centuries (Rome 1995), together with good discussion. For the pattern on the body, compare the trefoil-mouthed jug of very similar form, D. Whitehouse, Roman Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass, ii (Corning NY 2001) no. 728; its walls are described as unusually thick also, and Whitehouse draws attention to its blue trails. There is a possibility that they emanated from the same workshop.
Sotheby (London), Sale Cat., 3 July 1978, no. 48, pl. 8.