Ancient Greece, Classical Period, ca. late 6th to early 5th century BCE. A lovely core-formed glass alabastron with a characteristically elongated body with a rounded base, a discoid rim ringed with dark glass, and a pair of delicate trail handles gracing the shoulders. The body of the vessel is decorated with attractive patterns that include a single spiral of dark glass coursing from the neck to the midsection that begins to zigzag along the midsection, and another thin ring of dark glass traces around the lower body. In addition, areas of rainbow-hued iridescence have formed along the body and neck. Size: 1.375" W x 4.2" H (3.5 cm x 10.7 cm); 4.75" H (12.1 cm) on included custom stand.

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.

The alabastron is a long-bodied vessel with a rounded bottom, a tapered or cylindrical neck, and a flared, flattened mouth. 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.

For a stylistically similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 81.10.313.

Another stylistically similar example of a slightly smaller size hammered for $5,736 at Christie's, New York "Antiquities" auction (sale 1163, December 12, 2002, lot 362).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Martin Wunsch collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s

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#152847

Professionally repaired from multiple pieces, with resurfacing and very light adhesive residue along break lines. Pitting and minor abrasions to base, body, and rim, with light encrustations, and darkening to original white and purple-hued glass. Light earthen deposits throughout, and faint, scattered areas of rainbow-hued iridescence.