Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Glass Alabastron, Perfume bottle
16
days
07
hours
47
minutes
51
seconds
Current bid
€ 2
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,800 - € 2,100
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Ancient Greek Hellenistic alabastron (perfume bottle) in dark glass with light applied trails, ca. 4th–3rd century BC, length about 118 mm, in good condition, original/authentic, acquired from a Netherlands antique market in 2024, certificate of authenticity available on request.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Greek Hellenistic glass alabastron (perfume bottle). Funnel shaped cylindrical neck with everted rim, two small lug handles under the neck, cylindrical body expanding downward, then tapering to a pointed bottom. The dark glass body is decorated with creamy applied trails in contrasting light zigzag and banded ornament.
-> Core-formed glass vessels such as alabastra were among the earliest luxury glass containers of the ancient Mediterranean. They were used to hold precious oils, perfumes, or unguents, and were valued both for their contents and for the skill required to make them.
Length: ± 118,3 mm
Condition: good solid condition, intact and professionally preserved. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> Core-formed glass vessels were produced before the widespread adoption of free-blowing and represent one of the earliest important phases in ancient glassmaking. They were made by forming molten glass around a removable core, then adding decorative trails which were dragged into feathered or zigzag patterns while still hot. This technique demanded precision and control, and the finished vessels were often small, elegant, and highly prized.
Alabastra were especially associated with the storage of scented oils, perfumes, and cosmetic substances in the ancient world. Their narrow necks helped control the precious contents, while their decorative appearance made them desirable luxury items. Objects such as this reflect both the technical sophistication of early glassmakers and the importance of personal grooming, trade, and refined material culture in antiquity.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Greek Hellenistic glass alabastron (perfume bottle). Funnel shaped cylindrical neck with everted rim, two small lug handles under the neck, cylindrical body expanding downward, then tapering to a pointed bottom. The dark glass body is decorated with creamy applied trails in contrasting light zigzag and banded ornament.
-> Core-formed glass vessels such as alabastra were among the earliest luxury glass containers of the ancient Mediterranean. They were used to hold precious oils, perfumes, or unguents, and were valued both for their contents and for the skill required to make them.
Length: ± 118,3 mm
Condition: good solid condition, intact and professionally preserved. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
-> Core-formed glass vessels were produced before the widespread adoption of free-blowing and represent one of the earliest important phases in ancient glassmaking. They were made by forming molten glass around a removable core, then adding decorative trails which were dragged into feathered or zigzag patterns while still hot. This technique demanded precision and control, and the finished vessels were often small, elegant, and highly prized.
Alabastra were especially associated with the storage of scented oils, perfumes, and cosmetic substances in the ancient world. Their narrow necks helped control the precious contents, while their decorative appearance made them desirable luxury items. Objects such as this reflect both the technical sophistication of early glassmakers and the importance of personal grooming, trade, and refined material culture in antiquity.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Greek, Hellenistic
Century/timeframe
4th - 3rd century BC
Name of object
Alabastron, Perfume bottle
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2024
Material
Glass
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
