This elegant glass vessel would have been used
to store cosmetics or perfumed oils. The shape,
which is Greek in form, is very distinctive and
similar examples have been found across the
Mediterranean world from Spain in the west, to
Syria and Jordan in the east. The main centre of
production is still disputed, but the principle
contender is the island of Rhodes. One of the
most important commercial centres in the
Eastern Mediterranean, it had a lively trade in
cosmetics and it is possible that the glass-
making industry developed in response to this.
At the time of this vessel’s production, the
technique of glass-blowing had not yet been
discovered. Instead the hollow was formed by
covering a clay core with molten glass. The core
was formed around a metal rod that was held
during the vessel’s preparation. After the glass
had cooled the core was scraped out. The
decoration was added by winding thin trails of
various colours around the vessel and working
them with a comb. Finally the vessel was rolled
on the surface of a smooth stone tablet and the
trails were marvered into the walls. This was a
highly skilled and time-consuming process that
resulted in works of great beauty.
This amphoriskos is of dark blue glass. This
colour was valued by the ancients partly because
of its similarity to the precious stone lapis lazuli.
The body is piriform in shape with vertical ribs
on the upper section. Opaque white feather
trailing has been combed into festoons and
spirals around the base and neck. The rim is
edged with an opaque white trail. The handles
and pad base were applied after the main body
of the vessel had been created. There is some
slight restoration but otherwise the condition is
excellent.
Ref: D. F. Grose, The Toledo Museum of Art.
Early Ancient Glass, (Toledo, 1989), pp. 125 &
143, no. 96. (AM)
