Bowl
- Place of origin:
Iran (possibly, made)
Iraq (possibly, made)
- Date:
6th century-8th century (made)
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Islamic Middle East, room 42, case 1W
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This type of thick-walled glass cup is relatively common. The glass was originally clear with a green tinge. The iridescent patina here is the result of a long period of burial. The surface is cut with circular facets in a honeycomb pattern. When Iran was ruled by the Sasanian dynasty (about AD 224 to631), the techniques used to cut precious and semi-precious stones were also used on glass.
When the Middle East passed under Islamic rule in the 7th century, there was no sudden break in artistic production. One of the main influences on early Islamic art was the art of the Sasanian empire. This empire had ruled Iraq, Iran and the western part of Central Asia for four centuries before the Islamic conquest. Sasanian traditions continued for many years after that and so it is often difficult to tell whether an object is late Sasanian or early Islamic.
Physical description
Hemispherical glass cup with large circular facets all over the surface. Bold facetting cutting is characteristic of the glass of pre-Islamic Persia. Weathering during burial has given the once clear glass a metallic finish.
Place of Origin
Iran (possibly, made)
Iraq (possibly, made)
Date
6th century-8th century (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Glass, cut
Dimensions
Height: 8.2 cm, Diameter: 10.7 cm
Object history note
Hemispherical glass cup with large circular facets all over the surface. Bold facetting cutting is characteristic of the glass of pre-Islamic Persia. Such pieces were highly prized and exported examples have been recorded as far afield as China and Japan. Weathering during burial has given the once clear glass a metallic finish.
Descriptive line
Hemispherical glass cup with large circular facets all over the surface, northern Iraq or north-west Iran, 6th-8th century.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
cf. K.Erdmann (1961; p.33) and E.Kühnel (1931/2;p.28, pl.50)
Ferrier, R. W. (ed), The Arts of Persia, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1989. 334p., ill. ISBN 3-8041-801-06230-8 Ch.19, pl. 3
Labels and date
Cut-Glass Cup
Northern Iraq or north-west Iran
500-800
Under the Sasanians, the same glass-cutting techniques were applied to precious and semi-precious stones and to glass. This thick-walled cup represents a relatively common type cut with circular facets in a honeycomb pattern. The clear, green-tinged glass is now covered with an iridescent patina due to a long period of burial.
Glass, blown and wheel-cut
Museum no. C.58-1963 [Jameel Gallery]
Materials
Glass
Techniques
Cutting
Subjects depicted
Honeycomb
Categories
Islam; Glass
Collection code
MES
