Stunning Greek Core-Form Glass Amphoriskos

Ancient Greece, ca. 6th to 4th century BCE. An exquisite core-formed glass amphoriskos (miniature amphora) used by the ancients to hold perfumed oil. This near miniature vase boasts an exceptionally elegant form with a piriform body that is finely contoured with vertical ribs, a long tubular neck rising to an everted disk rim, and twin handles joining neck to shoulder, all upon a trailed drop. The decoration of this piece is simply breathtaking. Note how the deep cobalt blue body is wound with golden tangerine orange-yellow and white thread-like trails applied in a close-knit zigzag or feathered pattern around the body with straight linear bands below and threadlike trails spiraling around the neck and lining the rim. A divine work of glass art to be treasured for its impeccable form, beautiful hues, and sophisticated technique. Size: 2" W handlespan x 3.125" H (5.1 cm x 7.9 cm); 3.5" H (8.9 cm) on included custom stand.

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. 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 Greeks created core-formed or sand core 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.

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.

Provenance: ex-private New Jersey, USA collection, handed down by owner's parents. Acquired 1980's to 1990

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#149303
Condition Report: Repair to rim. Handles repaired and reattached. Trailed drop reattached to bottom of vessel, some repair/restoration to bottom of the vessel.