‘Alabastra’ were popular storage vessels in Ancient Greece, as they were decorative as well as functional. The alabastron was a container for perfumed oils, with its wide rim allowing the precious contents to be dispensed easily in small quantities. Common characteristics include a slim body, narrow neck and out-splayed rim. This shape originated from Egypt and was later adopted by the Greeks. The vessels feel into three different categories, a basic rounded Corinthian shape, a more pointed shape located in Eastern Greek and an Attic type which was the largest with handles and a rounded base.
CS-324To find out more about Roman glass please see our relevant blog post: Ancient Glass and Collecting Roman Glass.