Skip to Main Content
55/631
of
Catalogue

44. Amphoriskos

Accession Number 2003.201
Dimensions H. 12.5, Diam. rim 2.5, max. Diam. 5.2 cm; Wt. 117.62 g
Date Mid-second–mid-first centuries BCE
Production Area Eastern Mediterranean, probably Syro-Palestinian region or Cyprus
Material Translucent dark green; translucent to almost transparent amber-colored; opaque white and yellow glass
Modeling Technique and Decoration Core-formed; applied rim, handles, base-knob, and marvered threads
View in Collection

Condition

The vessel is in good condition, with some signs of weathering, pitting, and discoloration. There is a small hole near the base and a few abrasions and scratches on the surface. Base-knob mended and partly restored.

Description

Translucent dark green ground; opaque white and yellow decoration. Moderately broad, uneven, inward-sloping rim-disk; cylindrical neck with upward taper; obtuse-angled shoulder; broad, uneven ovoid body; convex pointed bottom; short, spherical amber-colored base-knob. Two opposing vertical translucent amber-colored strap handles extend from the shoulder to just below the rim, bend, and attach on the middle of the neck. Irregular depressions on the shoulder and upper body.

A marvered opaque yellow thread is wound on the rim and spirals to the bottom 32 times, in horizontal lines to the shoulder and on the lower body, and is dragged upward 24 times to form a festoon pattern on the body. A marvered white thread is added from the shoulder to the lower body, mingling with the spiral and festoon pattern of the yellow thread.

Comments and Comparanda

On core-formed amphoriskoi of this period, see comments on cat. 43. For the classification of this particular amphoriskos, see , class III:E, amphoriskos form III:2B: pp. 169–172, nos. 168–176.

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. 80, no. 210; p. 79, plate no. 210.

Exhibitions

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