This colorful example of a cylindrical alabastron is large, with an unusually wide rim and functional, pierced lug handles. The glass is primarily a deep cobalt blue, ornamented with a rich mustard yellow and opaque white, which are applied in thin feathered bands. A thin ring of mustard yellow also rings the edge of the alabastron’s wide rim.

Core-formed (also known as sandcore) vessels were created by trailing decorative threads of molten glass over a core of sand, mud or clay, to form a vase. Once the glass was in place, the threads could be dragged into decorative patterns, such as a the feathered pattern on our alabastron.

Alabastra are vessels with elongated, cylindrical bodies and broad rims. These vessels are not only beautiful, but functional: alabastra were containers for perfumed oils, their wide rims allowing their precious contents to be dispensed easily in small quantities. As the name suggests, these vessels in glass are probably modeled after those made in alabaster.

All e-Tiquities have been searched in the Art Loss Register database.