2015 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 54,000 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 20 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

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SQUAT-CIRCULAR BODIED ROMAN ARYBALLOS

SQUAT-CIRCULAR BODIED ARYBALLOS of  Hans van Rossum

SQUAT-CIRCULAR BODIED ROMAN ARYBALLOS

SQUAT-CIRCULAR BODIED ROMAN ARYBALLOS

SQUAT-CIRCULAR BODIED ROMAN ARYBALLOS

Second half of 2nd century – early 3rd century AD | Roman Empire, probably Rhineland area

Size↑6.0 cm | ø 7.1 cm | Weight 98 g

Technique: Free blown, handles applied; base tooled

Description: Manganese glass, squat body with circular shape and flat-sided with horizontal shoulder, slightly indented on one side. Rim colorless to light green glass; folded outward, downward, upward, inward and flattened. Two small handles of green glass in the shape of a dolphin fold over on the top of the shoulder to form graceful lugs attached below rim. Pushed-in base with hollow tubular base-flange and pontil scar.

Condition: Intact, incredible colored iridescence

Remarks: An aryballos with circular shape, straight walls and horizontal shoulder is extremely rare and probably unique. Rims were flattened in the second half of the second and early third centuries. The dolphin handles are characteristics for a production in the Rhineland area. The manganese color was made by adding manganese oxide, which was also added to make uncolored glass. The process was difficult to control with regards to quantities of manganese in combination with atmospherically circumstances. Very often the manganese colored vessels contain streaks or parts (rim) of lighter to almost colorless glass.

Provenance: Artemis Gallery Ancient Art, USA 2012, Private collection Chicago IL, USA

MINIATURE ROMAN JUG

MINIATURE JUG of  Hans van Rossum

MINIATURE ROMAN JUG

End 3rd century – 4th century AD | Eastern Mediterranean

Size↑5.2 cm | ø 3.0 cm | Weight 18 g

Technique: Free blown, handle, foot and thread applied

Description: Transparent cobalt blue glass, globular body set on a base ring, cylindrical neck, flaring folded rim and angular handle applied on the body, folded and drawn upwards, attached to the edge of the rim, forming a thumb-rest. Glass string twisted around top-part of the cylindrical neck. No pontil mark.

Condition: Intact, perfect condition

Provenance: Jerusalem art market, Sasson Ancient Art Ltd. 2003

Published: Romeins Glas uit particulier bezit, J. van der Groen & H. van Rossum 2011, p. 60

Exhibited: Thermenmuseum Heerlen (NL), 29 April – 28 August 2011, no. 73

Reference: Schitterend Glas, R. Halbertsma p. 7 for comparable miniature vessels, Archaeological Museum Pula, Croatia for a collection of miniature vessels

MOLD-BLOWN JUG

MOLD-BLOWN JUG of  Hans van Rossum

MOLD-BLOWN JUG

4th century AD | Eastern Mediterranean

Size↑13.0 cm | ø 7.3 cm | Weight 94 g

 

Technique: Mold-blown, neck and rim free blown; handle and coil applied

Description: Translucent yellow glass, globular body blown into a two-part mold, cylindrical neck flaring mouth and trefoil folded lip. Turquoise glass handle of massive coil, applied on shoulder, drawn up and down, attached below rim, continuing and forming a highlight to edge of rim, snapped off. A turquoise glass coil as decoration under the trefoil lip. Body decorated in relief in three registers (from top to bottom): (1) graduated circles with central bosses; (2) crosses and dots within squares; (3) diagonal swirling ribs below. Rounded base, no pontil mark.

Condition: Intact, some weathering and iridescence

Provenance: Collection C.A. Hessing, Laren (NL) 1998, formed in the 1990s, collection number 55
Collection Mr. and Mrs. Hans Benzian (CH), acquired in the 1960s – 1970s

Published: Glass Circle News, Issue 133, Vol. 36 no. 3, 2013, 3000 Jahre Glaskunst, von der Antike bis zum Jugendstil, M. Kunz no. 307, Sotheby’s London, auction 7 July 1994 lot 156

Exhibited: Thermenmuseum Heerlen (NL), Romeins Glas, geleend uit particulier bezit, no. 102 29 April – 28 August 2011, Kunstmuseum Luzerne (CH), 3000 Jahre Glaskunst, von der Antike bis zum Jugendstil, no. 307. 19 July – 13 September 1981

Reference: Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum, The Eliahu Dobkin Collection and Other Gifts,
Y. Israeli no. 217 (rounded mouth), La fragilitat en el temps. El vidre a l’antiguitat, T. Carreras Rossell no. 159, Roman Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass – Vol. II, D. Whitehouse nos. 640-642
Gorny & Mosch Munich, Auktion Kunst der Antike no. 210, 12. December 2012 lot 68 (ribbed handle)
Fire and Sand, Ancient Glass in the Princeton University Art Museum, A. Antonaras no. 91

CYLINDRICAL BOTTLE

CYLINDRICAL BOTTLE of  Hans van Rossum

Late 1st century – early 2nd century AD |

Found: in the surrounding area of Sebaste (Samaria-Israel)

Size: ↑10.5 cm | ø 7.0 cm | Weight 76 g

Technique: Free or mold-blown in an open mold, handle applied; tooled

Classification: Isings 1957 form 51a | Fleming 1999 type MS 5128 for the handle

Description: Transparent bright green glass, tooled. Rim folded outward and down, upward, and out
to form a collar, short cylindrical neck, sloping shoulder with smooth transition to
cylindrical body, tapering downward slightly concave base. Broad and ribbed handle
with two thin, sharp ribs between two thick ribs with rounded edges, applied on the
shoulder and attached to the neck, just below the rim at right angles. No pontil mark.

Condition: Intact, spots of iridescence and weathering

Remarks: Because of the cylindrical body it is almost certain that this shape was blown into an open
and conical formed mold.

Provenance:Jerusalem art market, Biblical Antiquities 2006

Published: Romeins Glas uit particulier bezit, J. van der Groen & H. van Rossum 2011, p. 117
De Oude Flesch, no. 124, 2011, p. 15

Exhibited: Thermenmuseum Heerlen (NL), Romeins Glas, geleend uit particulier bezit, no. 204
29 April – 28 August 2011

Reference: Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum, The Eliahu Dobkin Collecion and Other Gifts, Y. Israeli no. 323, Solid Liquid, Fortuna Fine Arts Ltd. no. 147, Collections de Deux Grands Amateurs, Catalogue Binoche et Giquello, 30 May 2012 lot 134, Ancient Glass in National Museums Scotland, C. S. Lightfoot no. 180