Jug

Item number M3.42 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

Item Records

This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.

The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.

These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.

Data
Data Source

This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Small glass jug with three handles. The body is spherical with a slightly concave bottom. The neck is short and cylinder shaped, sloping out to the shoulders. The rim is wide and splayed with a convex ring around underside formed by two concentric indentations. The three drawn handles are attached to the rim and the shoulder. There are beads of glass at the start and finish of each handle.

History Of Use

Used to store unguents, oil or perfume.

Narrative

The van Haersolte Collection

Specific Techniques

The iridescence of ancient glass is a symptom of changes in the metal content. It is caused by exposure to damp earth or humid air over a long period of time. Carbon dioxide is dissolved in the moisture of the air or soil, forming carbonic acid. This in turn combines with the alkaline constituent of glass, bringing about the decomposition of its surface. Glass which has been decolourized with manganese dioxide, such as this piece, displays more iridescence, coloured glass less. Genuine iridescence lessens the weight of glass, therefore the greater the iridescence the lighter the glass.