Bottle Item Number: M3.59 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Bottle in fusiform alabastron. Opaque body and handles with yellow, brown and light green feathered trail pattern. The bottle has a broad and flat rim with a yellow trail at the top of the lip, a short concave neck, rounded shoulders, a fusiform body, and sides that expand to the greatest diameter near the bottom and then contract to a rounded base. Two vertical drawn ring handles with tails sit below the shoulders.

History Of Use

Used to store unguents, oil or perfume.

Narrative

The van Haersolte Collection

Specific Techniques

Vessel formed by application of molten glass over a friable sand or clay core. The molten glass threads of contrasting colour were then wrapped around the vessel and combed up and down with a pointed instrument to create a feather pattern. After cooling the vessel was ground and polished. Finally the sand or clay core was removed to leave the vessel hollow. The feather pattern was common in the 3rd century B.C.E. It usually encircles the walls of the vessel, as in this case, from top to bottom (Neuberg).