Images(4)

bottle

Object NameBottle with Snake-Thread Decoration

Made FromGlass, Gold

Date175-299

Place MadeGermany, Cologne

Techniqueblown, applied, gilded

SizeOverall H: 13.1 cm, Diam (max): 6.3 cm

Accession Number2007.1.27

Credit LinePurchased in part with funds from the Arthur Rubloff Residuary Trust

Curatorial Area(s)

Ancient

On ViewAncient Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Many glass vessels with the same color scheme and similar snake-thread decoration have been found in Cologne, Germany, where they were probably made.

Physical DescriptionColorless, with gilded colorless, opaque white, and opaque light blue trails. Blown; applied. Bottle with pear-shaped body. Rim plain, with slightly irregular rounded lip; neck narrow, tapering and then expanding to merge with body; upper wall is straight and, below mid-point, curves down and in; base consists of hollow foot ring made by folding; pontil mark. Decorated on neck and wall. At narrowest part of neck, horizontal blue trail wound in two revolutions. On wall, continuous frieze with no upper border but lower border, near foot, consisting of horizontal white trail wound one and one-quarter times around body. Frieze contains four principal motifs: ivy leaves shown in outline with long, curving stalks; two blue motifs alternate with two white ones. All outlines are notched. Between tips of each pair of leaves and above each stalk, one small gilded colorless tendril consisting of two opposed spirals emerging from short stem.
Provenance

Source W. Bastiaan Blok - 2007

Former Collection Ernst Reimbold - 1919-11-27
Cologne, Germany, before 1919. Sold at auction through P. Hanstein & Söhne, lot 520.