Ancient Greece, Classical Period, ca. 6th to 5th century BCE. A beautiful example of a core-formed glass amphoriskos once used to hold fragrant oils. The vessel boasts an elegant form with a piriform body that is subtly contoured with vertical ribs, twin trail handles that gracefully join shoulder to neck, and an everted discoid rim, all upon a small circular base knob. The decoration of this piece is simply gorgeous, with the cobalt blue body wound with sky blue and tangerine yellow-orange trails applied in a close-knit feathered pattern. A golden tangerine trail also encircles the outside of the rim. Below the featured pattern are horizontal tangerine and sky-blue threadlike trails. An opulent example of glass-working to be treasured for its sumptuous form, lustrous sheen, fabulous hues, and sophisticated technique. Size: 1.875" in diameter x 2.875" H (4.8 cm x 7.3 cm)

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.

A slightly-larger yet stylistically-similar example hammered for $9,375 at Christie's, New York "Antiquities" auction (sale 2007, June 4, 2008, lot 99).

Provenance: East Coast, USA collection; ex major New York Gallery before 2011

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#147857

The upper section is repaired with fine-line fissures on the neck and shoulders visible upon close inspection. Expected age wear and traces of weathering film/deposits across the surface. A few popped surface bubbles. Deposits in divot on underside of base knob. Traces of iridescence/pearlescence as well.