Glass production during the Hellenistic period followed the traditional technologies of the classical antiquity and the Late Bronze Age. Since the early Hellenistic period, glassware was regarded as a luxury item, and its production and functions were limited to élite banqueting and votive uses. Conical and hemispherical containers, such as this example, were amongst the most popular shapes of the Late Hellenistic period, developed for wine drinking purposes. Different minerals were added to create a variety of colours; the yellow tint seen in this piece would have been created by adding lead and changing the oxygen levels. The iridescence on ancient glass was unintentional, and was caused by weathering on its surface. The extent to which a glass object weathers depends mainly on the burial conditions; however, the humidity, heat, and type of soil in which the glass was buried also all affect its preservation.
Ancient Greek Hellenistic Amber Glass Bowl
£ 3,750.00
An exceptional Ancient Greek Hellenistic bowl made from amber-coloured glass. The vessel features a hemispherical container whose straight walls raise from a flat base with a shallow kick-up, creating an elegant profile. Circumferential rotary grinding grooves mark the interior of the bowl, whilst small patches of lustre are visible on the surface.
This piece has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.10859-178322.
Period: Late Hellenistic
Provenance: Fernand Adda, 1920s. Mrs Petra Schamelman, Breitenbach, Germany. Private collection of a Kensington collector. Property of a London gentleman.
Condition: Very fine condition, a minor chip to the rim.
SOLD
| Weight | 103.2 g |
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| Dimensions | W 10.8 x H 6.5 cm |
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