289. Jug

Condition

Intact. White soil inside.

Description

Flaring, fire-polished rim; wide neck widening toward the conical body; conical, pushed-in base; concave bottom. Strap handle applied on the rim, forming triangular projections, pulled out and down to the shoulder; a small thread was pulled back up toward the rim, forming a central rib. On the body, S-shaped whitish striations are visible, probably signs of the rotation of the vase during the blowing process. On the bottom, an annular pontil mark (W. 3 cm) is visible. The entire vessel is a bit off-center, leaning forward.

Comments and Comparanda

Jugs with wide necks are known from the first century CE, although they differ in the shape of the handle (Isings 1957, pp. 71–72, form 54). Among glass vessels, this vessel is quite unique in its shape. A similar, dark blue jug has been published from Pompeii (Scatozza Höricht 2012, p. 93, no. 6837, plate II, fig. 6). The shape derives from metal prototypes known among finds from Pompeii (Painter 2001, p. 65, plate 18, fig. 2, jug M20, wherein relevant metal parallels). Vessels made of the same glass in the Getty collection are the alabastron cat. 30 and the patella cat. 77, also dated to the early first century CE.

Provenance

1979, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Constable Maxwell [sold, Sotheby’s, London, 4–5 June 1979, lot 110.]; by 1988, Erwin Oppenländer, 1901–1988 (Waiblingen, Germany), by inheritance to his son, Gert Oppenländer, 1988; 1988–2003, Gert Oppenländer (Waiblingen, Germany), sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 2003

Bibliography

Sotheby Parke Bernet 1979, lot 110.

Wight 2011, pp. 103, 116, fig. 85.

Exhibitions

Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity (Malibu, 2005–2006; 2007; 2009–2010)

Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture around the Bay of Naples (Los Angeles, 2009)