3rd-2nd century BC. A squat glass bowl with basal ring and prominent exterior ribs, flat-section rim, two lateral blocks pierced to accept a handle. [A video of this lot is available on the TimeLine Auctions website] 149 grams, 82mm (3 1/4"). Property of a Connecticut, USA, collector; formerly the property of a French collector; previously acquired from Galerie de Serres, Paris, France, before 1980. Glassmaking and glassworking were considered two totally separate crafts and took place in different regions in the Hellenistic period. Each craft was characterised by its own technological tradition, know-how and equipment. Glassmakers and glassworkers did not need to have an understanding of glass vessel manufacture and primary production respectively, in order to carry out their tasks. Glassmaking had to take place as close as possible to the sources of the raw materials used, namely sand and mineral natron when it comes to the Hellenistic period. Raw glass was traded throughout the Mediterranean in the form of ingots and it was then worked and shaped into vessels, inlays, jewellery, etc, in numerous sites of the Hellenistic world. A large part of glass production took place in the Syro-Palestinian coast as well as the broader Levant and Egypt, with centres of manufacture in the royal capitals of Antioch and Alexandria. The reputation of the Alexandrian workshop is well understood from luxury glass vessels decorated with Egyptian-style buildings or characteristic scenes found as far as Italy and Afghanistan.

Fine condition.