Glass vessel

Until Hellenistic times glass vessels were considered as luxuries, most probably because the technical process of making them was complex. But in the 1st c. AD, a new technique was invented in Syria: glass-blowing. The new technique simplified the process of glass-making and made possible the creation of practically any shape (by contrast to the previous technique of core-forming, which allowed only for a restricted range of shapes). Soon after that, glass vessels started being mass-produced. This changed their status from luxury items to objects of everyday use, and subsequently their prices (see video for the glass-blowing technique).

Τhe illustrated vase has been made with the glass-blowing technique in the form of a small oinochoe (wine jug). First, the body, neck and rim were shaped, while glass was still hot. Then the glass-worker added the base, the handle, and the plastic ring on the neck. Such miniature vases were used as oil or perfume containers.