There is some conjecture in the literature that these glass vessels were actually early Christian amulets taken as relics or souvenirs from holy areas. In "Roman, Byzantine, and Early Medieval Glass; 10 BCE-700 CE; the Ernesto Wolf Collection," Stern argues for this interpretation based on the distribution of these objects from the Holy Land to western Europe, which supports their production in Palestine and ultimate distribution to the Christian world. Interestingly, a similar vessel in solid blue glass (lot #45) in the April 8, 1998 Christies London auction was described as an amulet "representing the sacred vessel of Joseph of Arimathea." Gustavus Eisen made a similar attribution to a parallel vessel on page 520 of his monumental study, "Glass, Its Origin, History, Chronology, Technic and Classification to the Sixteenth Century." According to the Christian literary tradition, the vessel of Joseph of Arimathea was used to catch the blood of Christ at the crucifixion. This story provided the basis for the Medieval romance cycles that gave us the legend of the Holy Grail and made Dan Brown a millionaire...

AGE: 3rd-6th centuries AD

CONDITION: Intact and superb with nice iridescence. Mounted on a lucite stand for display. Ex-Harlan J Berk.