Greek Hellenistic Core Form Glass Amphoriskos

Ancient Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd to 1st century BCE. A stunning example of a core-formed glass amphoriskos - miniature amphora - once used to hold perfumed oil. This vase boasts an exceptionally elegant form with a piriform body, twin applied trailed handles of translucent golden orange glass that gracefully join the shoulder to the cylindrical neck which flares outward to the folded rim, with a blue droplet adorning the bottom. The decoration of this piece is simply breathtaking. Note how the deep blue body is wound with white thread-like trails applied in a close-knit feathered pattern around the center with horizontal trails below and above, extending to the rim. A divine work of glass art to be treasured for its impeccable form, beautiful hues, sophisticated technique, and wonderful traces of rainbow iridescence adorning the rim, neck, and handles. Size: 2.4" Diameter x 5.4" H (6.1 cm x 13.7 cm); 5.9" H (15 cm) on included custom stand.

A vessel like this would have been made for the elites of ancient society. Its owner would have used a stopper to keep the contents inside, and a glass rod to dip into the vessel's perfumed oils and dab on the throat or wrists. The little handles made it possible to suspend the vessel, and we know from Athenian vase paintings that vessels like these could be worn off a belt at the waist or suspended from the wrist.

The Greeks created core-formed or sandcore vessels by trailing threads of molten glass over a "core" of sand or clay to form the vessel. These threads were oftentimes feathered or dragged to create intriguing decorative patterns. The term amphoriskos literally means "little amphora" and is indeed a miniature amphora. This shape was quite popular as it was ideal to store precious oils, perfumes, or cosmetics.

According to the Corning Museum of Glass, core forming is "the technique of forming a vessel by winding or gathering molten glass around a core supported by a rod. After forming, the object is removed from the rod and annealed. After annealing, the core is removed by scraping." This process of glass making was begun in the late 16th century BCE by glassmakers of Mesopotamia, and then adopted by Egyptian glassmakers in the 15th century BCE. The technique almost came to an end in the so-called Dark Ages of Mediterranean civilization (1200 to 900 BCE); however, by the 9th century BCE a new generation of glassmakers took up the technique once again, and between the 6th and 4th century BCE core-forming spread throughout the Mediterranean.

For further reading about core-formed glass vessels, please read Associate Curator, Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art C.S. Lightfoot's "The Pendant Possibilities of Core-Formed Glass Bottles."

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#147825
Condition Report: Repaired from several pieces with break lines visible in some areas. Expected light surface wear as shown. Otherwise, excellent with gorgeous flakes of iridescence throughout.