Lustre pigments were used on glass vessels before they were used on ceramics. Glassmakers in Egypt were using them in the period 700-800, when this piece was made. Here they have been applied as a brown and yellow vine-scroll design on both the inside and outside of the clear glass. This two-colour combination is also found on the earliest lustre-decorated ceramics.
The technique of lustre decoration on ceramics was first developed in Iraq in the 9th century. The basic technique for both glass and ceramics was the same. A vessel (glazed if ceramic) was made in the normal way. When the piece had cooled, the design was painted on in metallic compounds. The piece was then fired again, this time with a restricted supply of oxygen. In these conditions, the metallic compounds broke down, and a thin deposit of copper or silver was left on the surface of the glaze. When polished, this surface layer reflected the light.
Physical description
Cup of bluish glass with reddish-brownish lustre painted decoration of vine scroll departing from vase covering body of vessel. Very finely blown. Broken and repaired with parts missing. Slight kick, pontil mark. Oxidization to some decoration.
Place of Origin
Syria (probably, made)
Date
8th century (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Glass, with lustre-painted decoration
Dimensions
Height: 6.5 cm, Width: 7.5 cm maximum
Object history note
Bought from Spink and Son Ltd. with C.23-1932 and C.23-29 for £420.
Historical context note
The earliest technique of glass painting in the Islamic world involves the application of a monochrome brownish or yellowish metallic pigment, usually on pale-aquamarine coloured bowls, although other types of objects such as drinking horns and dishes are not uncommon. These 8th or 9th century creations generally feature sketchy figurative or vegetal patterns, and sometimes inscriptions in cursive or kufic calligraphy. By applying pigments to both sides of open-shaped vessels, glassmakers highlighted details or outlines and exploited the transparent glass wall in order to create shading effects. This type of glass decoration was probably developed by Coptic craftsmen who settled in Egypt but it is likely such glass was also made in Syria.
Descriptive line
Glass cup with lustre-painted decoration of a vine scroll, Syria, 700-800.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Heaton (?), Noel, "The Origins and Use of Silver Stains", Journal of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, 1948, fig. 3, p. 11
Glass, Reino Liefkes (ed.), 1997, pl. 30
Lamm, C.J., An Oriental group of medieval date found in Sweden and the early history of lustre painting, Stockholm, 1941, pl. IX, p. 25
Ashton, A.L.B, "Three new glass vessels painted in lustre", Burlington Magazine, LX (1932), 293-4, Plate A
Labels and date
Lustre painting is applied after the vessel is finished, and the lustre is fixed by firing in a small reducing kiln. The technique deposits a thin layer of metallic copper and silver, which gives mother-of-pearl reflections or a variety of brilliant greens and golds.
Lustre Glass Cups
Syria and Egypt
700-800 and 1000-1200
Lustre pigments were first used on glass vessels such as these. The cup with a vine scroll, which predates the production of lustre ceramics, was decorated with brown and yellow pigments inside and out. Only one tone was used on the other cup, which is contemporary with the lustre jar and bowl from Cairo.
Glass stained with lustre pigments
Museum nos. C.24, 23-1932 [Jameel Gallery]
Materials
Glass; Lustre
Techniques
Painting; Firing; Blowing
Subjects depicted
Vine scrolls
Categories
Glass; Drinking
Collection code
MES
