Glass alabastron (perfume bottle)

5th century BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 171
Uncertain, appearing opaque black, with handles in same color; trails in opaque turquoise blue.
Broad horizontal rim-disk with rounded, raised lip around mouth; slanting cylindrical neck, tapering downwards; narrow rounded shoulder; straight-sided cylindrical body; lopsided convex bottom; two large vertical ring handles with knobbed tails, applied over trail decoration; one longer than the other.
A trail attached at edge of rim-disk; another trail applied to top of body, wound in a close-set, regular spiral down body, ending around bottom.
Intact; some limy encrustation down one side, and rest covered with iridescent creamy white weathering.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Glass alabastron (perfume bottle)
  • Period: Classical
  • Date: 5th century BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Eastern Mediterranean
  • Medium: Glass; core-formed, Group I
  • Dimensions: H.: 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
  • Object Number: 30.115.35
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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