In the seventh century B.C., the manufacture of sand-core vessels was revived in large scale in Egypt and the Near East. Although the techniques and colours suggest imitations of the New Kingdom vessels, new non-Egyptian forms were introduced to reflect the development of Greek pottery shapes.The name 'alabastron' is derived from the fact that many similarly-shaped perfume vessels were made from alabaster. This glass example was made by coating a core, probably made of clay mixed with animal dung around the end of a metal rod, with molten glass. This alabastron has a wide everted neck, an elongated ovoid body and a concave base. Attached on the upper part of the body are two small handles. Around the middle of the body is a zig-zag feather-like pattern in alternating white and yellow.Vessels such as this one were produced until the first century B.C. and were designed to contain perfume and cosmetics. - (X.0617

Antiquities
Ancient Near East