An ancient glass manufacturing method, mould blowing, which is as yet unrepresented in the collection of ancient glass.

The invention of glass-blowing to manufacture glass objects probably occurred in about the mid-1st century BCE, in Syria. It involved blowing air into a bulb of molten glass, using a blow-pipe, and inflating the bulb to the desired size. The thinness and transparency of blown glass extended the use to which the material could be put. Mould blowing is where a bulb of glass is inflated inside a mould which could produce unusual shapes and decorative embossed patterns on the glass repeatedly and quickly.

[Nicholas Thomas, 1976, Ancient Glass: the Bomford Collection of Pre-Roman and Roman Glass on loan to the City of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.]

Amphoriskos, glass, mould blown, Syria, 1st-2nd century CE

The amphoriskos, a small jar of light blue glass, was produced by the mould blown technique. The body is a faceted, octagonal in profile and circular in plan shape. It has a narrow cylindrical neck that meets the body at a sharp angle (neck amphoriskos) with flaring lip. Two slender handles of self-coloured, trailed glass, are joined at the neck and shoulder on either side of the vessel. The exterior surface of the vessel is covered in white powder, and some iridescence.

Made: Syria; 0 AD - 200

No marks

A8979

0 AD - 200

62 mm

38 mm