Islamic Glass Pitcher - LO.913, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 6.1" (15.5cm) high x 4.5" (11.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Hot-worked Glass. Although the development from the pre-Islamic period to the middle of the ninth century is very recognizable in architecture, including works in stone, plaster and wood, it becomes quite blurred on other media such as metalwork and pottery. Between the 5th and the 8th century glass production seems unchanged, although the surviving objects would still point to an industry that persisted and thrived, almost careless of the political and religious turmoils of the Ummayad era, including the death of the prophet Muhammad. Perhaps, the diffusion of glass-blowing and the consequent paucity of high quality glass after the crumbling of the Roman Empire might have hampered the rulers' sponsorship of glassmaking, yet during this period glass became more accessible for mundane use and thus, by loosing its status value, less attractive to affluent patrons.

Antiquities
Ancient Near East