Dish

Physical description

Fragmentary plate of pale blue glass, deeply cut. Central medallion of bird with smaller medallions featuring running animals around rim, originally nine. Medallion borders with pearl motif, smaller medallions linked to each other and to the larger central one by a simple cut. One horizontal band around shoulder. Some small bubbles in glass. Profile rather splayed.

Place of Origin

Iran (possibly, made)
Iraq (possibly, made)
Rayy, Iran (possibly, discovered)

Date

9th century-10th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Cut blown glass

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 cm, Width: 19.7 cm maximum

Object history note

The running freize of animals on this plate relates it to a body of deeply cut glass vessels which have been attributed to Iran and to the 9th-10th centuries. The bird in the central medallion, however, is consistant with Byzantine iconography, particularly on metalwork.

Descriptive line

Cut-glass dish with a quail-like bird, Iraq or Iran, 9th-10th century.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Kroger, Berlin no. 195

Labels and date

Said to have been found at Rayy, in Iran. The motifs of birds and running animals is characteristic of cut glass of this type, and also of cut rock-crystal from which the style was probably inspired. This deeply cut dish was weathered in burial, and the patina was removed (prior to its acquisition by the Museum), leaving a curious waxy texture. [Old label]
Cut-Glass Dish and Bottle
Iraq or Iran
800-1000 and 900-1100

After 800 the cut-glass vessels produced in Iraq and Iran became more sophisticated. The thick walls were ground or cut away to leave the decoration in bold relief. Designs such as the quail-like bird surrounded by a pearl border on the dish were often inspired by Sasanian models.

Glass, blown and wheel-cut

Museum nos. C.128-1936; C.20-1965 [Jameel Gallery]

Production Note

Said to have been found at Rayy, near Tehran.

Materials

Glass

Techniques

Cutting; Blowing

Subjects depicted

Animals

Categories

Glass

Collection code

MES