beaker
Object NameBeaker with Human Figure and Bird
Made FromGlass
Dateabout 800-1099
Place MadeNear East; possibly Persia
Techniqueblown, linear-cut, ground
SizeOverall H: 9.7 cm; Rim Diam: 4.8 cm
Accession Number55.1.123
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
Glass from the Ancient World
Verres Antiques de la Collection R.W. Smith
Not On View
Physical DescriptionColorless; many minute bubbles. Blown; linear-cut. Beaker shaped like truncated cone. Rim plain, with top ground flat; wall (Th. 0.1 cm) straight and tapering; base plain; pontil mark mostly removed by grinding. Wall has linear-cut decoration consisting of continuous horizontal frieze with two parallel lines forming border at top and single groundline at bottom. Frieze contains four motifs (from right to left): (1) human figure standing or squatting to front; he wears closely fitting cap with long, narrow “ears”; face is large, eyes are almond-shaped, torso is short, arms are indicated by oval elements, legs are short and perhaps bent, and feet stand on groundline; (2) almost completely missing; it cannot be identified, unless surviving part is tail of bird facing right; (3) plantlike motif with single stem, pair of leaves above midpoint, and leaf or leaf spray at top; and (4) bird standing to left, facing (1).Provenance
Source
Ray Winfield Smith
(American, 1897-1982) - 1955-12-13
1800-1899
