amphoriskos

Another notable achievement of Hellenistic glassmakers was the production of cast mosaic vessels with sections of preformed canes. A cane consists of thin, monochrome rods bundled together and fused to form a polychrome design that is visible when seen in cross section. It can be cut into slices that are arranged to form intricate patterns. Although earlier craftsmen had made glass mosaic inlays and plaques, the use of mosaic canes in the manufacture of vessels was virtually unknown until the late third century B.C. The jar shown here was made in two parts, presumably because it was difficult to fashion tall, narrow objects in mosaic glass. The opposed pairs of perforations in the upper neck and at the shoulder show that this object originally had two handles and was a miniature amphora.