Animal with Double Cosmetic Tube

Object Name: 
Animal with Double Cosmetic Tube

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Object Name: 
Animal with Double Cosmetic Tube
Place Made: 
possibly Syria
Accession Number: 
55.1.109
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 11.3 cm, W: 7.9 cm, D: 3.1 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
600-799
Web Description: 
Glassmaking was one of many crafts that flourished in the Sasanian Empire, and numerous products have come to light. Unfortunately, because our knowledge of Sasanian glass is somewhat limited, we cannot be sure whether some of these objects are Sasanian, Byzantine, or early Islamic. One example is this double cosmetic tube supported by two horses. It had both functional and decorative uses. Tubular containers for cosmetics mounted on zoomorphic figures were made in the Syrian region. The idea of supporting small containers with animal forms may have derived from the production of glass toys and figurines. More than 20 such objects are found in museums around the world. Some of the tubes are surrounded by an openwork “cage” made with trails of molten glass.

More Info

Department: 
Ancient
Provenance: 
Smith, Ray Winfield (American, 1897-1982), Source
1955-09-09
Category: 
Sasanian
Islamic
Color: 
colorless
green
purple
blue
Technique: 
applied decoration
glassblowing
tooling
Material: 
glass

Description

Primary Description: 
Animal with Double Cosmetic Tube. Almost colorless, with greenish, purple, and dark bluish-green glass; blown, tooled, applied. Double tube: two tubes, side by side, made from single bubble of glass by pinching sides vertically to form diaphragm. Rims (D. 1.1-1.2 cm) thickened slightly, with rounded lip; walls vertical; base embedded in body of animal. Applied decoration: single trail wrapped spirally 21 times around both tubes, from 2.9 cm to 7.5 cm below rims. Animal has two heads and two tails, but only four legs. Body and legs consist of single bit manipulated to form flat, rectangular body (L. about 4.5 cm, W. about 2.3 cm, Th. 0.7 cm) and short legs with bulbous feet; legs are straight, those at front point forward, and those at rear point back; bottom of double tube protrudes very slightly on underside of body. Heads consist of single bit manipulated to form two necks and heads, each with bulbous nose, and with green coil applied to forehead. Tails also consist of single bit, in this case manipulated to two upward projections shaped like pointed leaves.

Exhibitions (5)

Steuben Glass Animals
Venue(s)
Steuben Glass, Inc. 1988-11 through 1988-11
Glass from the Ancient World
Venue(s)
Corning Museum of Glass 1957-06-04 through 1957-09-15
 
Verres Antiques de la Collection R.W. Smith
Venue(s)
Musee de Mariemont 1954 through 1954
Antikes Glas aus der Sammlung Ray Winfield Smith: Kurpfalzischen Museum Heidelberg
Venue(s)
Kurpfalzischen Museum 1952-11 through 1953
 
Antikes Glas aus der Sammlung Ray Winfield Smith
Venue(s)
Museum Dahlem 1951-09 through 1951-11

Publications (15)

Ancient and Islamic Glass: Selections from the Corning Museum of Glass (2019) illustrated, pp. 94-95;
Zhongguo gu dai bo li qi min = Chinese ancient glass (2018) illustrated, p. 264 (fig. 6-75);
The Domestic Plane: New Perspectives on Tabletop Art Objects (2018) illustrated, p. 123 (fig. 3);
Islamic Glass in the Corning Museum of Glass Volume Two (2014) illustrated, p. 188-189, #932; BIB# 113723
Glass: A Short History (Smithsonian Books edition) (2012) illustrated, pp. 50-51; BIB# 130360
For Milady's Dressing Table: Scent Bottles & Accessories (2006-06) illustrated, p. 9; BIB# AI71266
The Corning Museum of Glass, A Guide to the Collections (2001) (2001) illustrated, p. 48; BIB# 68214
Glass Animals: 3500 Years of Artistry (1988) illustrated, leaf 34 (left); BIB# 3398
Glass Animals: 3,500 Years of Artistry and Design (1988) illustrated, p. 36; BIB# 32200
Glass from the Corning Museum of Glass: A Guide to the Collections (1974) (1974) illustrated, p. 34, #34; BIB# 28793
Glass from the Ancient World: The Ray Winfield Smith Collection (1957) illustrated, pp. 247-249, #497; BIB# 27315
Catalogue des Verres Antiques de la Collection Ray Winfield Smith (1954) p. 43, #246; BIB# 28196
Atti Del III Congresso Internationale del Vetro: The Challenge of Ancient Glass to the Modern Glass Industry (1953) p. 698, fig. 5; BIB# 30434
Antikes Glas aus der Sammlung Ray Winfield Smith (Heidelberg) (1952) illustrated, p. 18-19 (#101); BIB# 31788
Antikes Glas aus der Sammlung Ray Winfield Smith (Museum Dahlem) (1951) p. 11 (#76); BIB# 31796