Vial Item Number: M3.71 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Vial made from opaque blue glass with a rounded and uneven lip, a wide mouth, and a body with twisted ribs that tapers towards a knob-like base. One vertically drawn staff-shaped handle extends from the rim to the shoulder.

History Of Use

Used to store unguents, oil or perfume.

Narrative

The van Haersolte Collection

Specific Techniques

The casting was done by the cire-perdu process (pouring in viscous glass after the wax form was melted out), or by fusing powdered glass in situ between two parts of a closed mold. Objects which were required to be shaped on one side only were pressed in open molds, while those which were modelled in the round, such as this one, were cast in two-piece molds. For similar example see: Oppenlander, p. 257, fig. 752.