Vessel Shaped like Bird

Object Name: 
Vessel Shaped like Bird

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Object Name: 
Vessel Shaped like Bird
Accession Number: 
66.1.223
Dimensions: 
Overall H: 6 cm, L: 11.7 cm
Location: 
On Display
Date: 
25-99
Web Description: 
After the discovery of glass itself, the most significant innovation in preindustrial glassmaking was the discovery that glass can be blown. This enabled glassmakers to produce vessels much more rapidly than they could with the traditional techniques of casting and core forming. They were also able to make a greater variety of sizes and shapes. As a result, glassware was no longer made exclusively for the luxury market, and inexpensive objects became available for everyday use. This vessel in the form of a bird is an unusual blown object. In the 19th century, it was thought that vessels of this type were open-ended and were used as wine tasters. Later, it was realized that many of them were closed by fusing the hollow tail, the tip of which had to be broken to remove the contents. Some specimens have residues of white or red powder, which may be cosmetic powder or perfume.
Department: 
Provenance: 
Sangiorgi, Giorgio (Italian, 1886-1965), Former Collection
Sangiorgi, Sergio (Italian), Source
1966
Category: 
Color: 
Technique: 
Material: 
Primary Description: 
Transparent light blue glass; blown. Container in the form of a bird; long narrow beak inclined upwards; head and neck are represented by single tubular element which merges with plump, stylized body; long, tapering tail.
Glass of the Caesars
Venue(s)
British Museum 1987-11-18 through 1988-03-06
Romisch-Germanisches Museum 1988-04-15 through 1988-10-18
Musei Capitolini 1988-11-03 through 1989-01-31
Corning Museum of Glass
The Glass Ark: Animals in the Pierre Rosenberg Collection (2021) illustrated, p. 64 (fig. 2);
Tom Moore: Abundant Wonder (2020) illustrated, p. 160;
Ancient and Islamic Glass: Selections from the Corning Museum of Glass (2019) illustrated, p. 58;
Pandora's Boy (2018) illustrated, cover;
The Boundaries of Art and Social Space in Rome: the Caged Bird and Other Art Forms (2016) illustrated, p. 106 (fig. 5.2); BIB# 144268
Introducing Ancient Glass (2012-04) illustrated, p. 22; BIB# AI98798
Bird-shaped Vessel (family) (2011)BIB# 131660
Frabel: Excellence in Glass Art (2007) illustrated, pp. 26-27; BIB# 100291
For Milady's Dressing Table: Scent Bottles & Accessories (2006-06) illustrated, p. 9; BIB# AI71266
Flameworking Through the Ages (2006) illustrated, p. 3 (top); BIB# 94524
Beauty of the Beasts (2004-11-14) illustrated, p. 1E;
Cambridge Latin Course: Book II (2000) p. 107; BIB# 64896
Roman Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass, Volume One (1997) pp. 120-121, #187; p. 67, ill.; p. 342, #187; BIB# 58895
All About Glass = Garasu Daihyakka (1993) p. 27; BIB# 36566
Cosmesi e Archeologic Riccioli Trucco e Belletto (1991) p. 58;
Glass Of The Roman Empire (1988) illustrated, pp. 26-27, fig. 9; pp. 6, 9; BIB# 32608
Glass Animals: 3,500 Years of Artistry and Design (1988) illustrated, p. 23  (bottom); BIB# 32200
Glass of the Caesars (1987) illustrated, p. 95, #37; BIB# 31831