Glass bottle shaped like a bunch of grapes

Unknown

3rd century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Translucent blue green. Rim folded out, round, and in, and pressed into flaring mouth; cylindrical neck expanding downwards, with slight horizontal tooled indent around base; shoulder sloping down and out, with hollow projecting roll below; ovoid body; low cylindrical base, with concave bottom. Pontil scar at center of bottom. Body blown into a three-part mold of two vertical sections, extending from base to top of body, and a disk-shaped base section. On body, a pattern of stylized grapes comprising eleven interlocking rows of twenty-two unevenly-spaced hemispherical knobs, and at top two indistinct leaves opposite each other, centered between the mold seams; on bottom, three narrow raised concentric circles. Intact; many bubbles; patches of dulling, pitting, and iridescent weathering. Bottles, jars, and handled jugs whose body is made in the shape of a stylized bunch of grapes have been found mainly in the Syro-Palestinian area. One bottle, for example, is known from a rock-cut tomb at Nazareth. But pieces are also known from Egypt, Carthage, and even Aksum in Ethiopia.

Artist

Unknown

Date

3rd century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Museum Accession