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bottle
bottle

bottle

Object NameBottle
Made FromGlass
Dateprobably 275-325
Place MadeItaly
TechniqueBlown, wheel-engraved
SizeOverall H: 18.4 cm, W: D: Diam (max): 12.3 cm
Accession Number62.1.31
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
Via Appia: sulle ruine della magnificenza antika (Via Appia: On the Ruins of Ancient Magnificence)
Treasures from The Corning Museum of Glass
Glass of the Caesars
Medieval Glass for Popes, Princes, and Peasants
On ViewAncient Gallery
Interpretive Notes
This bottle is decorated with architectural landmarks in the Roman city of Baiae on the Bay of Naples in Italy, and was likely made as a souvenir. It was found near the ancient city of Populonia, Italy, shortly before 1812.
Physical DescriptionBottle. Transparent pale green glass; blown. Globular with slender tapering neck. Rim unworked; neck expands towards body with slightly concave bottom. Wheel-engraved decoration on body, combining waterfront scenes and inscriptions. At top, "ANIMA. FELIX. VIVAS" and palm frond. Below, water; barrel-roofed building on piles, joined to similar building by bridge; above these, "STAGNV. PALATIV."; below bridge, frame supporting weighted ropes and "OSTRIARIA"; water: mole with four arches ending in prow-like feature; on the mole, building with saddle-back roof, two columns surmounted by statues of warriors and two-arched structure supporting four-horse group; in the first building, "RIPA"; between the columns "PILAE".
Provenance
Source Ray Winfield Smith (American, 1897-1982) - 1948-1962-11-16
by 1957–1962, purchased by Smith in New York in 1948
Former Collection Elisa Bonaparte Grand Duchess of Tuscany - 1812-1813
Reported to have been gifted to the Duchess’ advisor, and thence by family descent