Cup
1000-1200 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This piece is a small bowl or large beaker. A glass worker made it of clear glass and decorated it in brown lustre. A double contour line marks the top and bottom of the walls.The space between is divided into ten vertical panels. These alternate between a wider panel decorated with a single teardrop, and a narrower panel containing a double spiral of scrollwork. The domed base is decorated with a single flower. There are several similar bowls of this type, and experts generally think that they were probably been made in Egypt, where one was found. They date them to the 11th or 12th century, when the country was ruled by the Fatimid dynasty (969-1171).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Transparent glass, with lustre-painted decoration |
| Brief description | Lustre glass cup, Egypt, 1000-1200. |
| Physical description | This small bowl or large beaker is made of clear glass and decorated in brown lustre. The walls are defined top and bottom by a double contour line. The space between is divided into ten vertical panels, which alternate between a wider panel containing a single teardrop motif, and a narrower panel containing a double spiral of scrollwork. The domed base is decorated with a single flower. Bottom has pontil mark and does not stand properly. The walls of the vessel are thicker than most other lustre-painted vessels and may be indicative of its later date. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Bought from Spink LTD (with C-23-29 and C24-1932) for £420.00. |
| Historical context | The last phase of painting with stains, usually attributed to Fatimid Egypt, is characterized by a restrained monochrome decoration applied only on the exterior surface. It shares a similar decorative program and thickness of glass with an example in the British Museum OA2902.5-17.2. |
| Summary | This piece is a small bowl or large beaker. A glass worker made it of clear glass and decorated it in brown lustre. A double contour line marks the top and bottom of the walls.The space between is divided into ten vertical panels. These alternate between a wider panel decorated with a single teardrop, and a narrower panel containing a double spiral of scrollwork. The domed base is decorated with a single flower. There are several similar bowls of this type, and experts generally think that they were probably been made in Egypt, where one was found. They date them to the 11th or 12th century, when the country was ruled by the Fatimid dynasty (969-1171). |
| Bibliographic reference | Ashton, A.L.B., "Three new glass vessels painted in lustre," Burlington Magazine, LX, 1932, 293-4, Plate A. |
| Other number | 8258 - Glass gallery number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.23-1932 |
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| Record created | December 13, 1997 |
| Record URL |
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