Ancient Greece, Classical Period, ca. 5th century BCE. A lovely core-formed glass alabastron, so named because many vessels that assumed this form were made of alabaster. The vessel presents a characteristically elongated body with a rounded bottom and trail handles gracing the shoulders. Its bichrome color scheme and decorative patterns are elegant, with the body composed of opaque white glass with brown spiral trails adorning the lower and upper body and combed zigzag patterns embellishing the midsection. In addition, areas of faint rainbow-hued iridescence are scattered across the creamy-white composition, imbuing it with an opulent appearance. Size: 1.375" W x 4.2" H (3.5 cm x 10.7 cm).

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." (https://www.cmog.org/glass-dictionary/core-forming). 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.

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA; ex-Bonhams, London, Knightsbridge Antiquities Auction (May 8, 2013, lot 200); ex-Jil Danon collection (d. 2012), Paris, France, formed between the 1940s and 1990

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#140157

Small losses to rim, with pitting and abrasions across most surfaces, and fading to white and brown glass coloration. Light earthen deposits as well as faint rainbow iridescence throughout.