Lot 138A
Ancient Near East, Byzantine period, ca. 5th to 6th century CE. A graceful pale green glass flask, free-blown with a globular body resting upon a planar base. The surface is embellished with evenly spaced prunts - small molten glass applications that catch the light like dewdrops - and a tall, cylindrical neck that narrows elegantly near the juncture with the body. The rim flares broadly and is finished with a thickened collar below, lending a refined architectural balance to the vessel's silhouette. The vessel's iridescence, the result of long burial and ancient weathering, creates a shimmering play of color across its translucent green body, hinting at its centuries of repose beneath the earth. Such flasks would have held perfumes, oils, or precious unguents, their delicate walls and carefully modeled shapes designed as much for beauty as for function. Size: 2.8" Diameter x 4.3" H (7.1 cm x 10.9 cm)
Byzantine glassmakers inherited Roman traditions of free-blown artistry but developed their own aesthetic of slender grace and luminous simplicity. This piece exemplifies that transitional elegance - where form, proportion, and light converge in quiet sophistication, a testament to the enduring refinement of Late Antique craftsmanship.
A similar Byzantine glass sprinkler vessel hammered $5,250 (now equivalent to $7,126.95) at Christie's New York on April 12th, 2016 (Live Auction 12256 "Antiquities," lot 112).
Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection
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#199061
- Condition: A few stable hairline stress fissures, but otherwise, intact and excellent with weathering film to interior and beautiful iridescence throughout. Modern adhesive on base from previous display.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |