Glass Bottle - SF.292, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4.75" (12.1cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Mold Blown/Tooled,  More »

Glass Bottle - SF.292, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4.75" (12.1cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Mold Blown/Tooled, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Islamic Glass Inkwell - SF.293, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Islamic Glass Inkwell - SF.293, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Blown/Cut/Applied, Medium: Glass. This pale green vessel was probably used as an inkwell by an ancient scribe. The irregular cylindrical body is decorated with a shallow cut honeycomb pattern. Four suspension loops have been applied to the upper part of the body and are joined to the wide flat rim of the opening. It has been suggested that these were used to suspend the inkwell from the left wrist or belt of the scribe. The size and wall thickness of this vessel make it more likely that it was hung from a wall or niche. It is possible that there was once a cylindrical tube suspended in the centre of this vessel to contain the ink or it may have been poured directly into the main body. The pontil mark is visible on the underside of the base.   « Less

Small Pale Green Glass Vessel - SF.294, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 700 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.5" , (6.4cm) high x 2.1" (5.3cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern, Style:  More »

Small Pale Green Glass Vessel - SF.294, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 700 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.5" , (6.4cm) high x 2.1" (5.3cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Islamic Glass Alembic - SF.295, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4.75" (12.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style:  More »

Islamic Glass Alembic - SF.295, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4.75" (12.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style: Free-Blown/Tooled, Medium: Glass. This glass vessel is composed of a deep cup and a long spout or pipe. Similar pieces have been found across the Islamic world from northern Africa to Uzbekistan. There are two interpretaions as to the function of these objects in the literature. Sometimes they are referred to as cupping glasses used by physicians for blood- letting. The Islamic world was renowned for the study of medicine and such objects shed important light on its practice. They are also referred to as 'alembics.' These were used by alchemists in distillation apparatuses designed for a variety of purposes. These included the production of alcohol, perfume, rosewater and date oil. The alembic was the part of the apparatus where the vapour was turned into a liquid state.   « Less

Islamic Glass Bead in the Form of a Ewer - OS.051, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 1.25 " (3.2cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic,  More »

Islamic Glass Bead in the Form of a Ewer - OS.051, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 1.25 " (3.2cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Islamic Glass Bead in the Form of a Ewer - OS.052, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 1.25 " (3.2cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic,  More »

Islamic Glass Bead in the Form of a Ewer - OS.052, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 1.25 " (3.2cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Islamic Glass Bottle - RP.097, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 3" (7.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Mold-Blown,  More »

Islamic Glass Bottle - RP.097, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 3" (7.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Mold-Blown, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Islamic Glass Jug - RP.098, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 5.75" (14.6cm) high x 4.75" (12.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glass,  More »

Islamic Glass Jug - RP.098, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 5.75" (14.6cm) high x 4.75" (12.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glass, Condition: Restored.   « Less

Islamic Glass Vessel - RP.099, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4.5" , (11.4cm) high x 5" (12.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Islamic Glass Vessel - RP.099, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4.5" , (11.4cm) high x 5" (12.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Inscribed with magic texts, these bowls were used to ward off evil spirits and protect family and property. Unearthed at relatively high levels of excavation, they were  More »

Inscribed with magic texts, these bowls were used to ward off evil spirits and protect family and property. Unearthed at relatively high levels of excavation, they were neglected by the nineteenth century pioneers of Mesopotamian archaeology who were more interested in discovering palace foundations and large-scale sculpture. In more recent years however their importance has been recognised and they have been studied in-depth. The incantations were written in a variety of Aramaic dialects including Jewish Aramaic, Mandaic and Syriac. There are also examples written in Pseudo-script, presumably by less literate scribes. Although the texts are not dated they are generally assigned to the late Sassanian/ early Islamic period (6th-8th century A.D.). Their main function was to trap evil spirits and they were often placed upside down at the corners of rooms, or built into foundations or cemeteries. The texts sometimes instruct them to be placed ‘at the four corners (of the room)’ for extra protection. The names of the clients for whom the bowls were made can be divided into two main categories- Semitic and Persian. However this is not always a reliable guide to their ethnicity. Jewish influence on the Mandaic inscriptions was minimal but is pronounced in the Aramaic incantations. Many of the scribes may have been Jewish or trained by Jews, and the Hebrew Bible is frequently quoted.   « Less