Glass aryballus (oil bottle) with bronze suspension chain
Translucent blue green; handles in same color.
Collar rim folded out, down, round, and up, with outward flange at top; cylindrical neck with tooling marks around base; globular body; rounded bottom; two opposed ring handles applied to top of body, with tooled groove at outer edge of pad.
Intact, except for tiny weathered chip on rim; few bubbles; slight soil encrustation, dulling, and some iridescent weathering on exterior, soil deposits and brownish weathering on interior.
Attached to each handle, a circular bronze ring made by bending length of wire into circle, held in place by twisting the overlapping ends; attached to rings two long bronze chains, square in profile, both attached at other ends to another ring of tear-drop, also attached to this ring is another short length of bronze chain and then another circular bronze ring.
Since the ancients did not have soap, they used olive oil to help cleanse their skin. Bottles such as this one were ideal for carrying one’s own supply to the baths.
Collar rim folded out, down, round, and up, with outward flange at top; cylindrical neck with tooling marks around base; globular body; rounded bottom; two opposed ring handles applied to top of body, with tooled groove at outer edge of pad.
Intact, except for tiny weathered chip on rim; few bubbles; slight soil encrustation, dulling, and some iridescent weathering on exterior, soil deposits and brownish weathering on interior.
Attached to each handle, a circular bronze ring made by bending length of wire into circle, held in place by twisting the overlapping ends; attached to rings two long bronze chains, square in profile, both attached at other ends to another ring of tear-drop, also attached to this ring is another short length of bronze chain and then another circular bronze ring.
Since the ancients did not have soap, they used olive oil to help cleanse their skin. Bottles such as this one were ideal for carrying one’s own supply to the baths.
Artwork Details
- Title: Glass aryballus (oil bottle) with bronze suspension chain
- Period: Imperial
- Date: 1st–2nd century CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Glass, Bronze; blown
- Dimensions: H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); diameter 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm)
- Classification: Glass
- Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
- Object Number: 17.194.193
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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