Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s6.12

v1.c22.s6.12

An unguent flask (No. 21 in Table 14.6) obatined from the Greek stratum of Sirkap deserves particular notice because its shape, material and technique all combine to indicate its Hellenistic character. With its flared base, long neck and wide-projecting brim, it is obviously quite foreign to India. It contains large percentages of tin and lead (7.34 and 7.78 % respectively) — an alloy which appears to have come into vogue during the Greek period, the advantage of adding the lead being that it rendered the metal less brittle and easier to cast than the ordinary high-tin Indian bronze of that period. The unguent flask of Hellenistic design might have been fabricated by the cire perdue process.