Rare Greek Core Formed Glass Alabastron

About Auction

Live

Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (472)

• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Classical Period, ca. late 6th to early 5th century BCE. A striking 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, a discoid rim ringed with dark glass, and trailed handles gracing the shoulders. Its bichrome color scheme and decorative patterns are simply magnificent. The alabastron is composed of opaque white glass with aubergine training that was combed into a feathered or herringbone pattern along the midsection. Horizontal amethyst-hued bands rise above this zigzagged section and underscore it below. In addition, areas of silvery and rainbow-hued iridescence are visible across the composition and imbue the vessel with an opulent appearance. A fabulous work of glass art replete with sophisticated technique, beautiful hues, and elegant artistry! Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 1.5" W x 4" H (3.8 cm x 10.2 cm); 4.5" H (11.4 cm) on included custom 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.
  
  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.
  
  For a stylistically-similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 81.10.313: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/245463
  
  A stylistically-similar example hammered for $5,736 at Christie's, New York Antiquities auction (sale 1163, December 12, 2002, lot 362): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/an-eastern-mediterranean-core-formed-glass-alabstron-circa-4026299-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4026299&sid=bb7330f9-f005-41f4-b1c0-b83fb133dd43
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Martin Wunsch collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #143942

  Condition

  Repaired from multiple large pieces with light adhesive residue along break lines, and areas of restoration with overpainting. Minor abrasions to rim and body, with a few stable hairline fissures, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits as well as great silver and rainbow iridescence throughout.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %