Glass bottle

4th–5th century CE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171

Translucent blue green; handle and trails in translucent cobalt blue.
Thick rim, folded over and in, forming narrow, irregular mouth; tall cylindrical neck with slightly concave side and tooled horizontal indent at base; small piriform body; thick bottom, tooled into solid knob base tapering to point, with pontil scar; rod handle applied to sides of neck, forming arched loop over mouth.
Trail decoration comprises eight elements: from top to bottom, a single horizontal trail around upper neck, a spiral trail wound four times around neck, another spiral trail wound five times around neck, a single thick horizontal trail around lower neck, a spiral trail wound eight time around body, a single thick horizontal trail around top of base knob, another single thick horizontal trail around lower down base knob, and a thick trail drawn across bottom of knob.
Intact, but parts of trail around body missing and also one side of trail across bottom of knob base (all with weathered breaks); elongated bubbles in neck; dulling, creamy weathering, and iridescence.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Title: Glass bottle
Period: Late Imperial
Date: 4th–5th century CE
Culture: Roman
Medium: Glass; blown, tooled, and trailed
Dimensions: H. 8 1/16 in. (20.5 cm)
Classification: Glass
Credit Line: Museum Accession
Object Number: X.21.205
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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