Further Investigation of the Method of Manufacture of an Ancient Near Eastern Cast Glass Vessel

Extract

The purpose of this paper is to describe a further investigation into the method of manufacture of an important eighth–seventh century B.C. glass vase (Plates Ia, IIa) from Syria or Assyria now in the Corning Museum collection. It is somewhat similar to the well known Sargon vase in the British Museum. In our initial study we focused on methods used to finish this cast glass vessel, particularly the drilled handles, the interior walls, the profiled bands and polished outer surface. In the present study we have again focused on the drilled handles in order to determine the type of drill bit, the type of drill, abrasive and lubricant. The reason for this particular emphasis was that several important questions in our initial study were left unresolved. In addition, a serendipitous finding and subsequent research in the field of ancient Egyptian lapidary offered new insights and working hypotheses.