Greek Hellenistic Core Formed Glass Alabastron

Ancient Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. 2nd to 1st century BCE. A core-formed glass alabastron, so-named because many vessels that assumed this form were made of alabaster. The bi-chrome vessel is primarily comprised of deep midnight blue glass with white glass trails that have been combed into a festooned pattern. Additional trails of white glass coil across both ends of the fusiform body as well as the discoid rim. A pair of lug handles, also created from deep blue glass, were applied to the upper body. An elegant example of Hellenistic artistry. Size: 5.25" H (13.3 cm); 5.75" H (14.6 cm) on included custom stand.

The alabastron is a long-bodied vessel with a rounded bottom, a cylindrical neck, and a flat disk for a mouth. Though usually without handles, some alabastra have eyes or lugs, like this example. According to the Beazley Archive of the University of Oxford, the alabastron shape's history extends back to Corinth, but was only preserved in Athenian pottery examples back to the mid-sixth century BCE. Alabastra were created in many materials, including alabaster, and the Greek term for this stone. Alabastron (most likely of Egyptian origin) - was the source of inspiration for the name of this shaped vessel. Many examples were finished with a white ground, as if to imitate this stone. We know from vase painting imagery of women using alabastra following a bath, that these vessels most likely held perfumed oils.

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.

A very similar example, though slightly smaller and with different colored trails, hammered for $10,625 at Christie's, New York Antiquities Auction (sale 2856, June 5, 2014, lot 42).

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

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#147824
Condition Report: Minor nicks and chips to lug handles. Normal surface wear commensurate with age. Areas of earthen deposits to rim and interior. Scattered deposits across the surface. Overall excellent.