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cosmetic tube
cosmetic tube

cosmetic tube

Object NameCosmetic Tube
Made FromGlass
Date400-499
Place MadeRoman Empire; Eastern Mediterranean
TechniqueBlown, applied, tooled
SizeOverall H: 39 cm, W: 9.6 cm
Accession Number54.1.100
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
Ambrose and Agustine: The Origins of Europe
Glass of the Caesars
On ViewAncient Gallery
Interpretive Notes
Single, double, and occasionally quadruple tubes were used in the Near East to contain cosmetic preparations. This example, one of the largest known, was probably intended for display, because the elaborate handle makes it very difficult to extract the contents from the tubes.
Physical DescriptionTranslucent green and dark bluish-green glass; blown, applied, tooled. Translucent green body has four cylindrical compartments made from single bubble of glass by pinching sides to form diaphragms; compartments linked across solid base; rim turned in and down; sides vertical, tapering at bottom; base flat. Body decorated by attached trail to side of each compartment immediately above bottom; drawn up to rim in eight folds, each attached to side. Next trail attached to lip, pulled down over entire length of folds and pinched in series of horizontal projections. Dark bluish-green applied and tooled handle constructed on body trails and rim creating M-shaped elements.
Provenance
Source Pierpont Morgan Library - 1954-09-21
pitcher
pitcher
200-399
bottle
bottle
200-399
ewer
ewer
1800-1899
goblet
goblet
Salviati
1900-1974
bottle
bottle
1100-1225
pitcher
pitcher
probably 1100-1399