Description

A Greek core-formed amphoriskos with twin green handles. Translucent green body (appears black) with yellow trail applied to edge of rim-disk and wound spirally down neck and across shoulder. White as secondary color applied over yellow at top of body, both tooled into a feather pattern on body in ten irregular panels of alternating upward and downward strokes, then fine white trail continuing on lower body in a spiral almost two turns but thicker yellow trail continuing and ending on pointed bottom.

The body was made by wrapping a mass of clay, sand and straw over the end of a support rod. Heavy threads of glass of the primary color were coiled closely around the core. Then finer threads of the secondary color(s) were wound in loose spirals over the body. The support rod was removed and the core mass scraped out after heating. Unfortunately core-formed vessels were not very practical for storing perfumes or oils as they lack transparency and often some residue of the core remained inside, which contaminated its content. However they remain a testimony of great workmanship. 

Comparable:

www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/245633 

www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/249831

www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/239905

www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1868-0110-493

Culture

Greek

Dating

c. 200 - 100 B.C.

Size

13,5 cm, with stand 14,5 cm.

Provenance

Dutch private collection, bought from Bonhams.

Private Collection Belgium, bought from Sotheby's London (below). Including scans of insurance document dating 1986.

Sotheby's & Co London, Egyptian, Western, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, 11 June 1973, lot 127. Including Scans of catalogue pages of the Sotheby's auction. 

Condition

Good condition. One handle broken and
repaired, the body broken and repaired, large chip to the rim.