Throughout history, in almost every ancient culture, the spindle whorl has been a common domestic object. Elegant and abstract, these little objects were used to weight wool  More »

Throughout history, in almost every ancient culture, the spindle whorl has been a common domestic object. Elegant and abstract, these little objects were used to weight wool while it was being spun into thread. Common to most every civilization, these charming weights were often buried as a grave gift with their owners. Though their shape tended to remain uniform, spindle whorls can be found in a variety of materials including stone, bronze, gold, glass and bone. In the classical world, even the most repectable women carded and spun wool; it was considered the duty of a good matron. Spindle whorls are still used today in parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. We can imagine this whorl dancing through the fingers of a beautiful woman as she laughed and gossiped with her friends. From such an artifact, handled on a daily basis by an ancient life, we are place in intimate touch with a vanished age. - (GF.0303)   « Less

The history of glass making before the Industrial revolution can be separated in two stages: in the first, which began in the 3rd millennium BC and ended in the period from  More »

The history of glass making before the Industrial revolution can be separated in two stages: in the first, which began in the 3rd millennium BC and ended in the period from 100 to 50 BC, craftsmen discovered how to transform raw materials into glass and how to make vessels and other objects either with moulds or by forming a molten glass around a removable core. Both techniques were labour-intensive and were seldom made in big quantities. In the second stage, beginning in the 1st century AD in the Syro-Palestinian region, glass workers found that molten glass could be formed by inflation and manipulation with tools. Glass blowing enabled them to make quickly a wide range of shapes, thus widening its market. However, after the 2nd century AD, glass is generally found in a more confined area. The change appears to have taken place under the Flavian Emperors (69-96 AD), an era that in many ways represents a watershed in the history of glass making. It is from this time onwards that glassblowing in the East and the West developed along independent lines, the only exception being fine tableware decorated with special techniques, which was probably due to the still unifying factor of the Roman Imperial administration. Yet, the most prolific period in the history of glass in the Eastern Mediterranean was during the late Roman Empire, when Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Cyprus, Asia Minor and the north Pontic region all had flourishing glass industries. With the increased demand for glass, regionalism became the dominant factor in the production of glass vessels. Marked regional differences existed not only between the glass made in Syria, Jordan and Palestine, but even between different parts of Palestine (inland vs coast; Galilee and Phoenicia vs Judea). The glass industries of these regions experienced a prolonged period of growth, and the late Roman and early Byzantine period were by far the most important not only in terms of absolute output but also in terms of typologies used. Only during this period, glass was finally used by different strata of societies, sometimes even replacing pottery for certain functions.   « Less

The history of glass making before the Industrial revolution can be separated in two stages: in the first, which began in the 3rd millennium BC and ended in the period from  More »

The history of glass making before the Industrial revolution can be separated in two stages: in the first, which began in the 3rd millennium BC and ended in the period from 100 to 50 BC, craftsmen discovered how to transform raw materials into glass and how to make vessels and other objects either with moulds or by forming a molten glass around a removable core. Both techniques were labour-intensive and were seldom made in big quantities. In the second stage, beginning in the 1st century AD in the Syro-Palestinian region, glass workers found that molten glass could be formed by inflation and manipulation with tools. Glass blowing enabled them to make quickly a wide range of shapes, thus widening its market. However, after the 2nd century AD, glass is generally found in a more confined area. The change appears to have taken place under the Flavian Emperors (69-96 AD), an era that in many ways represents a watershed in the history of glass making. It is from this time onwards that glassblowing in the East and the West developed along independent lines, the only exception being fine tableware decorated with special techniques, which was probably due to the still unifying factor of the Roman Imperial administration. Yet, the most prolific period in the history of glass in the Eastern Mediterranean was during the late Roman Empire, when Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Cyprus, Asia Minor and the north Pontic region all had flourishing glass industries. With the increased demand for glass, regionalism became the dominant factor in the production of glass vessels. Marked regional differences existed not only between the glass made in Syria, Jordan and Palestine, but even between different parts of Palestine (inland vs coast; Galilee and Phoenicia vs Judea). The glass industries of these regions experienced a prolonged period of growth, and the late Roman and early Byzantine period were by far the most important not only in terms of absolute output but also in terms of typologies used. Only during this period, glass was finally used by different strata of societies, sometimes even replacing pottery for certain functions.   « Less

This beautiful elongated bag-shaped tube presents an everted rim folded inward, pushed- in ring base and pontil mark. Two handles rising from the upper part of the body  More »

This beautiful elongated bag-shaped tube presents an everted rim folded inward, pushed- in ring base and pontil mark. Two handles rising from the upper part of the body attached to the upper rim. A small tread trail around the neck. Weathering patches all over the surface and traces of diagonal rotation, probably achieved after its removal from the mould. The whole surface covered by iridescence and heavy weathering.Kohl tube is indeed one of the most easily recognizable ancient glass vessels. It was designed to hold kohl- an eye make up-, a paste made of galena (antimony trisulphide Sb), brown ochre and sometimes malachite, that was applied with a special small spoon to the eyes.   « Less

Glass plates and bowls were the most popular glass vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean area in the last centuries BC, during the Hellenistic period. Their manufacture  More »

Glass plates and bowls were the most popular glass vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean area in the last centuries BC, during the Hellenistic period. Their manufacture continued even after the introduction of glass blowing. Dishes such as this one, featuring a tubular rim, folded outward, vertical sides and flat bottom thickened at the centre were made from the lower section of the glass bubble. The base was formed from an added ring wound once.   « Less

The greenish glass flask with lenticular body, short neck and thick tubular rim folded inward, with no base, traces of tooling and pontil mark. Two handles in darker green  More »

The greenish glass flask with lenticular body, short neck and thick tubular rim folded inward, with no base, traces of tooling and pontil mark. Two handles in darker green colour rising from the shoulder and attached above the rim, each with a projection folded outward. Heavy weathering crust and iridescence throughout.The shape of these vessels, already found in ceramic prototypes of the 2nd millennium BC, was especially easy to produce in blown glass, since it could be simply achieved by flattening a globular bubble. These plain flasks usually lack bases and handles and they were probably provided with special carrying cases of leather, straw or cloth to protect them during transport and which could be tied with handles so that the flask could be suspended.   « Less

This small greenish juglet features a cylindrical fluted body with round shoulder, cylindrical neck leading to a splayed funnel mouth with rim folded inward, the base concave  More »

This small greenish juglet features a cylindrical fluted body with round shoulder, cylindrical neck leading to a splayed funnel mouth with rim folded inward, the base concave with pontil mark. The handle rises from the shoulder to the rim, terminating in a small fold. A trail winds twice spirally closely in the middle of the neck. A pale weathering crust covers most of the neck and shoulder.Among the different types of tableware, jugs are particularly notable for their pleasing and elegant forms, the shape influenced by contemporary silver and gold decanters. Cylindrical bottles and jugs with mould-blown vertical ribbing on the body were common in Syria and Palestine between the 3rd and 6th century AD. This vertical effect was mostly produced by means of a very simple mould, although sometimes pinching was used for a less uniform effect. This type remained in use for a long period of time. Examples have been found in a burial cave of the 3rd century AD at Tell Halif, in a tomb of the 4th-5th century Ad at Beth She’arim, providing a solid dating for this vessel typology.For an almost identical example in the Israel Museum see Y.Israel, Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum, 2003: pl.218, p. 184. - (LO.943)   « Less

Transparent bluish glass amphora with rim rolled inward, short slightly flaring funnel mouth, tall neck, horizontal shoulder elongated inverted conical body tapering to a  More »

Transparent bluish glass amphora with rim rolled inward, short slightly flaring funnel mouth, tall neck, horizontal shoulder elongated inverted conical body tapering to a rounded base. Two rounded coil handles each applied to shoulder and attached to the neck, excess glass drawn out thin and folded back along the top of the handle. On the exterior thin cream coloured and silver weathering crust, incipient pitting.This typology of vessel was apparently very popular in the late Roman period in the Eastern Mediterranean regions for serving wine at the table. The clear colourless glass would have provided the best 'showcase' for a sumptuous libation.For a comparable example see; M. Stern, Roman, Byzantine and Early Medieval Glass, 2001 pl.98, p. 208. - (LO.944)   « Less

Light bluish juglet featuring a tall square body with slightly concave base, slightly sunken shoulder, cylindrical neck with ledged rim folded inward. A wide handle ribbed  More »

Light bluish juglet featuring a tall square body with slightly concave base, slightly sunken shoulder, cylindrical neck with ledged rim folded inward. A wide handle ribbed lengthwise rising vertically from the shoulder attached to the upper part of the neck. The surface showing cloudiness, weathering and iridescence.Despite their relative fragility, glass containers were produced for the transport and storage of liquids from very early on. Such vessels have thick walls, convenient handles, their bodies are usually cylindrical or square. The handles do not protrude beyond the walls, making it possible to pack and store the jugs tightly. Square vessels such as this one could be packed and stored with an even greater economy of space than the cylindrical ones. These were either blown in moulds or free-blown, the body shaped on the marver by flattening. Though it is normally assumed that this type of jars served mainly for the transport and storage of liquids, since they were considered quality containers in their right own, often were they reused even in funerary contexts, especially in western Europe.For a comparable example see: Y. Israel, Ancient Glass in the Israel Museum, 2003: pl. 327, p. 255. - (LO.945)   « Less

This charming amulet depicts a lion in a reclining pose with his tail frozen in a pose suggesting movement. Above the lion's head are a group of stylized leaves, which form a  More »

This charming amulet depicts a lion in a reclining pose with his tail frozen in a pose suggesting movement. Above the lion's head are a group of stylized leaves, which form a natural canopy for the resting animal. The scene leaves the viewer with the impression that he or she has just interrupted the king of beasts as he rests in a shady bower. The lion has a highly anthropomorphized visage and he is in possession of all the facial features of a human being, including two delicately painted eyebrows. He also has a mane, which adorns his face like a long beard. Small dots and lines mark his coat in what appears to be an attempt to represent pattern, shading or both. Although this regal beast dates from the Roman period, he exhibits a striking Babylonian influence, which is further heightened by the highly polished surface of the obverse of the amulet. This amulet sensitively portrays a quiet moment in nature, which transcends time and appeals to the modern connoisseur as it did to his or her ancient counterpart. - (PF.2998)   « Less