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Catalogue

23. Alabastron

Accession Number 2003.187
Dimensions H. 13.3, Diam. rim 3.6, max. Diam. 3.3 cm; Wt. 78.31 g
Date Mid-fourth–early third centuries BCE
Production Area Eastern Mediterranean. Allegedly from Olbia, Ukraine
Material Translucent dark blue and opaque yellow glass
Modeling Technique and Decoration Core-formed; applied rim-disk, handles, and unmarvered and marvered threads
View in Collection

Condition

Fully preserved. There is some discoloration, and the vessel is almost fully covered with iridescence. There are a few minor abrasions and scratches. A small part of the thread on the rim is missing.

Description

Translucent dark blue body; opaque yellow decoration. Broad, horizontal rim-disk; cylindrical neck wider toward the body; rudimentary shoulder; cylindrical body wider toward the bottom; flat bottom with curved edges. Two lugs on the upper part of the body placed unevenly at different heights.

On the neck there is a horizontal band, 2.3 cm long and 1.0 cm wide, that covers a tear in the neck of the vessel. A small horizontal hole is visible below the applied band.

An unmarvered yellow thread is wound around the rim. A marvered white thread is spirally wound 21 times around the upper and middle body, and a marvered yellow thread is wound 13 times around the lower part of the body. The threads are dragged 16 times up and down, forming a feather pattern.

Comments and Comparanda

On core-formed alabastra of this period, see comments on cat. 22. For the classification of this particular alabastron, see , class II:A, alabastron form II:2: pp. 153–155, nos. 124, 128.

Provenance

By 1974–1988, Erwin Oppenländer, 1901–1988 (Waiblingen, Germany), by inheritance to his son, Gert Oppenländer, 1988; 1988–2003, Gert Oppenländer (Waiblingen, Germany), sold to the J. Paul Getty Museum, 2003

Bibliography

, p. 70, no. 181; p. 72, plate no. 181.

Exhibitions

Gläser der Antike: Sammlung Erwin Oppenländer (Hamburg and Cologne, 1974–1975)