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Permanent Collection

Ancient & Pre-Columbian

Roman Glass Collection

Acquired in the early 1960s by Carl George, Professor Emeritus of Biology at Union College, and his wife, Gail George, in Beirut, Republic of Lebanon. According to George, the glassware originated from a Bedu tribesman visiting from Tell Maenas (Minas), a village in the northwest Syrian desert. The glass comes from graves “discovered” in some manner by the people of village and the regional Bedu (migratory peoples)

Many pieces from this collection are unguentaria, or vessels used for the application of body oils. They are hand-blown or molded, and a pontil mark is commonly evident on the foot. The patina is usually iridescent and thinly layered.

Unguentarium, Roman Empire

Unguentarium, Roman Empire (c. 100 to 300 A.D.), blown glass, Gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection

Unguentarium

Ceramic Amphora, Unguentarium

Ceramic Amphora, Unguentarium, Roman Empire (c. 100 to 300 A.D.), blown glass, Gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection.

Ceramic Amphora, Unguentarium

Unguentarium (purple)

Unguentarium (purple), Roman Empire (c. 100 to 300 A.D.), blown glass, Gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection.

Unguentarium (purple)

Bronze Collection

This collection of ancient bronze weaponry and horse fittings was originally acquired in the 1960s by Union College Professor Emeritus, Carl George and his wife, Gail George, in Tehran, Iran and gifted to the Permanent Collection. Presumed to be from the famed Luristan region and dated to the Iranian Iron Age (1300- 650 BCE), many of the bronzes are representative of artifacts from this area and can be stylistically compared to excavated examples at notable institutions.

Bronze Pins from the UCPC

Near Eastern Bronze Culture, Northwestern Iran (Luristan?), Large pins with conical heads (tent flap pins?), copper alloy, 1300-650 BCE?, gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection, 1996x.1.22.1-2 UCPC.

Large pins with conical heads (tent flap pins?)

Large, cast pins with conical heads; larger pin has visible herringbone design between circular lines, sharp point, and significant patina.

Learn more about these pins in our online collection...

Northwestern Iran, Adze blade

Near Eastern Bronze Culture, Northwestern Iran (Luristan?), Adze blade, copper alloy, 1300-650 BCE? (possibly late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BCE), gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection, 1996x.1.31 UCPC.

Adze blade

Cast and forged adze with hollow, cylindrical shaft hole/socket with gently flared blade.

View this Adze blade in our online collection...

Northwestern Iran, Shallow bowl

Near Eastern Bronze Culture, Northwestern Iran (Luristan?), Shallow bowl, copper alloy, 1300-650 BCE?, gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection, 1996x.1.43 UCPC.

Shallow bowl

Beautiful patina; broad, flaring lip extends from a softly, inwardly curved shoulder; slightly rounded, convex bottom.

View this shallow bowl in our online collection...

Northwestern Iran, Equine figurine

Near Eastern Bronze Culture, Northwestern Iran (Luristan?), Equine figurine, copper alloy, 1300-650 BCE?, gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection, 1996x.1.40.2 UCPC.

Equine figurine

Diminutive, cast equine (possibly a horse) figurine with articulated mane, eyes, ears, and docked tail (or possibly broken off); tapered legs; geometric-shaped eyes.

View this equine figurine in our online collection...

Northwestern Iran, Halberd axe

Near Eastern Bronze Culture, Northwestern Iran (Luristan?), Halberd axe, copper alloy, 1300-650 BCE?, gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection, 1996x.1.16 UCPC.

Halberd axe

Crescent-shaped halberd axe, cast and forged, with broken tang and missing handle; per appraiser: "prominent, round boss on each face; flat bent tang".

View this Halberd axe in our online collection...

Northwestern Iran, Tanged dagger

Near Eastern Bronze Culture, Northwestern Iran (Luristan?), Tanged dagger, triangular blade with square shoulders, copper alloy, 1300-650 BCE?, gift of Carl and Gail George, Union College Permanent Collection, 1996x.1.3 UCPC.

Tanged dagger, triangular blade with square shoulders

A very thin, cast and forged triangular blade with a slight midrib and square shoulders; bent tang (also called "rat-tail" or "rat-tanged"); the tang is crimped 3/4 of the way down - damaged in burial, excavation, combat?

View this tanged dagger in our online collection...

Want to see more like this?

View all of our Bronze Collection in our online collection...

Other Highlights

Here are other highlights from our Ancient & Pre-Columbian collection

Mayan Vessel from the UCPC

Female Effigy Vessel, ca. 750-1200 A.D., ceramic, Union College Permanent Collection.

Female Effigy Vessel

Face articulated at neck of vessel; abstracted features of breasts and arms on body of vessel.

Learn more about this female effigy vessel in our online collection...

Mayan Copador Vessel

Mayan Copador Vessel, ca. 600-900 A.D., ceramic, Union College Permanent Collection.

Mayan Copador Vessel

Cylindrical shaped vessel with slightly concave body profile; poly chrome painted detail/decoration of three figures in elaborate costume, each figure framed separately by two parallel lines (not a continuous narrative).

View Mayan Copador Vessel in our online collection...

Assyrian Tablet (Clear Cuneiform)

Assyrian Tablet, 858-824 B.C.E., clay, Union College Permanent Collection.

Assyrian Tablet

Cuneiform inscription is well preserved and is very similar to the brick; this tablet is from the structure of the temple tower or “ziggurat” of the ancient Assyrian city of Kalhu, modern Nimrud, Iraq, located near the meeting of the Tigris and Upper Zab rivers.

View this Assyrian tablet in our online collection...

Assyrian Tablet (brick)

Assyrian Tablet (brick), 858-824 B.C.E., clay, Union College Permanent Collection.

Assyrian Tablet (brick)

Mud brick inscribed with cuneiform which describes its origin as the "temple tower" (ziggurat) of the ancient Assyrian city of Kalhu (previously referred to as "Calah"), modern Nimrud, Iraq located near the confluence of the Tigris and Upper Zab Rivers.

View this clay brick Assyrian tablet in our online collection...