Ancient Greece, Classical to Hellenistic Period, ca. 5th to 3rd century BCE. A beautiful core-formed glass amphoriskos exhibiting an elegant, tapered profile and a plethora of vibrant hues including marigold, azure, and periwinkle. The inverted piriform body bears a series of gently impressed vertical ribs around the shoulder, rests upon a petite discoid foot, and has a pair of applied trail handles arching between the corseted neck and flared rim. The polychrome glass comprising the body is adorned with delicate swirls as well as ribbed feather patterns and applied trails of yellow glass that swirl up the neck until terminating in a ring of yellow glass applied around the rim. Size: 1.81" W x 3.5" H (4.6 cm x 8.9 cm); 4.05" H (10.3 cm) on included custom stand.A vessel like this would have been made for the elites of ancient society. Its owner would have used a stopper to keep the contents inside, and a glass rod to dip into the vessel's perfumed oils and dab on the throat or wrists. The little handles made it possible to suspend the vessel, and we know from Athenian vase paintings that vessels like these could be worn off a belt at the waist or suspended from the wrist.The Greeks created core-formed or sandcore vessels by trailing threads of molten glass over a "core" of sand or clay to form the vessel. These threads were oftentimes feathered or dragged to create intriguing decorative patterns. The term amphoriskos literally means "little amphora" and is indeed a miniature amphora. This shape was quite popular as it was ideal to store precious oils, perfumes, or cosmetics. Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, USA; ex-East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #112461