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# C H A P T E R 7 Serving Dishes Sheila D. Matthews The category of serving dishes includes all flat-bottomed dishes with nearly vertical sides and more or less plain rims. They differ from flat-bottom bowls (chapter 9), whose heights are greater in relation to their bottom diameters. Named “serving dishes” simply to distinguish them from other vessels in the collection, they could have been used for a variety of dining or storage purposes (Pl. 13). The dishes are divided into two major types on the basis of height. Type I has low walls with heights not exceeding 2.9 cm, whereas the heights of Type II are 3 cm or greater. Both Type I and II dishes generally have a fairly level or flat bottom . Unlike the plates, none were found in which the boss protrudes appreciably below or above the bottom. Being freeformed vessels, they do not always sit evenly on a flat surface, nor is the boss always centered. Since each dish was handcrafted, the rim profile could change subtly in thickness or shape on any dish. Basic rim profiles are depicted in Fig. 7-2. Rims can be threaded or plain. Threads are green or blue-green, varying in thickness or width along the rims’ borders. In some cases, the thread produced a ridge in the rim’s profile (Fig. 7-3A), whereas in others the thread was marvered smooth into the existing profile (Fig. 7-3B). Dishes of Type I, shallower, and Type II, deeper, are divided into subtypes A, plain, and B, mold-decorated, and further subdivided into those without applied threads (1) and those with threads (2). The dishes were made in four colors: amber, green, yellowgreen , and purple. Light and dark gradations of the colors are listed in the catalog when warranted. Many of the dishes and fragments are streaked or tinted with secondary colors. Elongated bubbles and spiraling ripples on the glass caused by the centrifugal force exerted when spinning the vessel on the pontil are visible on almost all examples. Cataloged items assigned SD numbers represent individual Fig. 7-2. Serving dish rim typology. 92 part Iv: shallow dishes boss area; bottom protrudes slightly below flat plane. Rim Profile D1. N3, N4. SD 6. Light yellow-green; est. rim diam. 0.38; h. 0.028; wall th. 0.0015; glass quality poor; four nonjoining shards, only 0.09 length of rim, boss area missing; bottom fairly flat; distinct manufacturing or tool ridges on exterior. Rim Profile D. L5, N4, N5, O2, O3. SD 7. Serving dish. Inv. No. GW 914. Fig. 7-4 (Sheila Matthews). K3, N5, O4, O8. Est. rim diam. 0.34–0.345; h. 0.024; boss th. 0.011; wall th. 0.0025. Yellow-green; purple whirls radiate from boss, giving amber hue to center; glass quality poor; approx. 30 of vessel, only 0.13 length of rim. Small pontil mark is rough but level with bottom. Bottom fairly flat with shallow waves or dips. Distinct boss. Rim Profile D1. SD 8. Purple; est. rim diam. 0.24–0.245; h. 0.03; wall th. 0.0015; glass quality poor; rim and part of bottom, approx. 30 of vessel. Rim Profile A1. M4, N3, N4. SD 9. Amber; est. rim diam. 0.32–0.35; h. 0.0245; wall th. 0.0015; small fragments of rim and bottom curve do not join; although only 0.05 of rim length remains, estimated diameter is of a large vessel. Rim Profile A1. N4, O4 or O7. SD 10. Green; est. rim diam. 0.36–0.35; pres. h. 0.02; wall th. 0.0025; small area of side wall and 0.018 length of rim. Rim Profile B2. N3, N3 or N4. SD 11. Amber; est. h. 0.028; wall th. 0.0015; glass quality poor; small length of rim and part of bottom curve. Rim Profile C. SD 12. Light amber; est. rim diam. 0.34–0.38; h. 0.03; wall th. 0.0015; part of side and bottom curve and 0.06 length of rim. Rim Profile E1. O6. Type IA2. Shallow, Plain, Threaded SD 13. Serving dish. Inv. No. GW 1435. Fig. 7-4 (Sheila Matthews). O3. Rim diam. 0.177–0.18; h. 0.022–0.024; boss th. 0.006; wall th. 0.001; thread w. 0.003–0.0005. Amber with dark amber swirls at boss area and a light green smudge to one side of boss. Nearly...

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