Phoenician Glass Flask

Glass has been made since before the second millennium bc by fusing silica (typically from sand or quartz) with an alkali (such as sodium carbonate or potassium compounds from organic materials) at high temperatures.

This Phoenician glass unguent flask from the 5th century bc was made using the core technique, which preceded glassblowing. A mixture of clay and dung was attached to a rod and formed into the shape of the flask. Hot threads of glass were wound around the form, smoothed, reheated, then wound with more glass. This process was repeated until the vessel was finished, and handles, a foot, and a lip were added. The rod, along with the core material, was then removed.

Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York

Appears in these articles

Glass (art); Chemistry

*	Exclusively for MSN Encarta Premium Subscribers Join Now