Glass cosmetic flask (kohl tube)

Unknown

4th century CE · Glass, bronze · Greek and Roman Art

Colorless with pale green tinge; foot, handles, and trail in same color. Broad, horizontal rim folded out, over, and in; cylindrical neck, joining imperceptibly with slender, piriform body; applied conical foot, with folded tubular edge; deep kick in bottom and pontil mark; two rod handles applied in claw pads to neck, drawn up and out, and then turned in and pressed onto lip of rim. Single fine trail applied as a pad on lower body, drawn up and wound in a spiral twenty-one times around body and neck, ending under one of the handles. Complete, but crack in neck and upper body, and some parts of trail missing; some bubbles; dulling, slight pitting, thick creamy brown weathering, and limy encrustation. Associated with the flask is a small bronze spatula, suitable for spooning the contents out of the deep flask.

Artist

Unknown

Date

4th century CE

Medium

Glass, bronze

Culture

Roman, Syrian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Museum Accession