Lentoid Flask

Object Details

• Description

  Lentoid flask, Sand core vessel with dragged thread decoration. Broken and repaired.

• Label

  Vessels such as this one are the masterpieces of Freer's Egyptian purchases. Of superb quality and beautifully preserved, they remain the world's premier collection of Egyptian glass vessels produced during Dynasty 18 (1550-1307 B.C.E.). The rich blues and blue-greens and the lustrous surfaces that appealed to Freer were also prized by ancient artisans, who sought to imitate in glass the colors and appearance of favored gemstones, especially turquoise and lapis lazuli. The vessels were made by winding threads of molten glass around a core of sand, clay, and mud.

  These small vessels were fashioned as containers for costly perfumed ointments, scented oils, and cosmetics. Comparison with vessels and fragments excavated from royal glass workshops suggests that many of the Freer examples were made during the reigns of the pharaohs Amenhotep III (1391-1353 B.C.E.) and Amenhotep IV, who changed his name to Akhenaten (1353-1335 B.C.E.). They may likewise be the products of royal workshops.

• Provenance

  To 1909

  Giovanni Dattari (circa 1858-1923), Cairo, Egypt, to 1909 [1]

  From 1909 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Giovanni Dattari in 1909 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See S.I. 189, Miscellaneous List, Egyptian Glass, pgs. 1 and 4, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. This piece is part of a collection of glass that was purchased en bloc and includes 1,388 specimens (for further purchase information, see the folder for F1909.332).

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt (January 28, 2023 to 2025)

  Charles Lang Freer and Egypt (June 13, 1998 to October 2, 2011)

  Ancient Egyptian Glass (August 13, 1994 to July 7, 2005)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Corridor (December 10, 1984 to July 10, 1986)

  Ancient Glass (May 26, 1982 to June 25, 1982)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Corridor (March 6, 1981 to May 7, 1984)

  Ancient Glass (June 1962 to (end date unknown))

  Glass Exhibition, in honor of VI International Congress on Glass (July 4, 1962 to December 3, 1962)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Giovanni Dattari (1858-1923) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 20: A Collector’s Eye: Freer in Egypt

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Dattari, Giovanni, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Glass, Ancient Egyptian Art, Glass dragging, Core-forming, Dynasty 18 (ca. 1539 - 1295 BCE)

• Culture

  Egyptians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes