Lot 13C
Ancient Greece, ca. 6th to 4th century BCE. A very early example of a core-formed glass amphoriskos (miniature amphora) once used to hold perfumed oil. This near miniature vase boasts an exceptionally elegant form with an ovoid body that is finely contoured with vertical ribs, twin handles that gracefully join the shoulder to the cylindrical neck, an everted, disk rim, all upon a slightly splayed narrow foot. The decoration of this piece is simply breathtaking. Note how the cobalt blue body is wound with azure blue and golden yellow thread-like trails applied in a close-knit zigzag or feathered pattern. The golden trails continue above the feathered pattern, highlighting the handles, encircling the neck, and resolving at the rim. Below the feathered design, yellow and sky blue trails encircle the piece resolving to yellow at the foot. A divine work of glass art to be treasured for its impeccable form, beautiful hues, and sophisticated technique. Custom, museum-quality stand. Size: amphoriskos itself measures 1.5" W x 2.375" H (3.8 cm x 6 cm); 2.75" H (7 cm) on 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." (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.
Provenance: Ex-private New Jersey collection acquired in 1980's.
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#112447
- Condition: Near choice save a nearly invisible surface line near the foot.
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