Glass aryballos (oil bottle)

Unknown

1st–2nd century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent deep blue green, but streaked in purple and appearing yellow green around lower body; handles and trail in same color. Everted, horizontal rim, folded round and in, flattened on upper surface and forming slight constriction to mouth; short, cylindrical neck, with horizontal tooled indent around base; broad, gently sloping shoulder; globular body; convex bottom; two dolphin handles applied to shoulder over trail decoration in large pads, one extending to base of neck, drawn up, round, and down, forming to ring holes, then trailed off back along top. Trail applied around bottom and wound round and up in a spiral 22 times, ending on outer part of shoulder (trail is thick and fire-rounded on lower body but becomes fine and in sharp relief above). Intact, except for small sections of trail on shoulder; few bubbles; dulling and slight pitting on exterior, patches of soil encrustation and iridescent weathering on interior. Squat green oil flask with two handles and glass threads around body.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st–2nd century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917