Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.39, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.7" (17.0cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.39, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.7" (17.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.40, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 6.7" (17.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.40, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 6.7" (17.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.41, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.9" (15.0cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.41, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.9" (15.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.42, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 7.1" (18.0cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.42, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 7.1" (18.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.43, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.3" (16.0cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.43, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.3" (16.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Dionysus, the god of wine and merriment, is shown with his sacred animal the panther on one side of this splendid vessel, which almost certainly identifies it as a container  More »

Dionysus, the god of wine and merriment, is shown with his sacred animal the panther on one side of this splendid vessel, which almost certainly identifies it as a container for wine. On the other side stands a naked youth, possibly Herakles, the favorite hero of the classical world. The Romans had a talent for enriching the merely functional with artistic skill, turning the useful into the beautiful as well. In the presence of this stunning vessel we are transported to the heart of a vanished culture, one that surrounded itself with beauty. - (PF.0067)   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.44, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.1" (15.5cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.44, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.1" (15.5cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.45, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.1" (13.0cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.45, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.1" (13.0cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.46, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.7" (14.5cm) high,  More »

Sphero-Conical Vessel with Stamped & Incised Decoration - AMD.46, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.7" (14.5cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware. The sphero-conical vessel style of objects form a distinct group, homogeneously brought together by their shape and material. Often these objects are the same size, however very large and very small examples have been documented. The form is characterized by the "sphero-conical" shape of the body, the outline varies, but almost all have a narrow neck usually with a groove beneath the lip that would be used to tie a stopper down, and the opening is usually no more than a few millimeters in diameter. Color, texture and finish will vary, but most often these objects are dark, fine grained and compact. Firing appears to be high as to render the object impenetrable, so there is no need for waterproofing. The thickness of the walls gives the object weight and strength, and no doubt helps to improve water tightness. These objects appear throughout the Islamic world in the same form from east to west.   « Less

Terra sigillata wares were the classic fine wares of the Roman period. The roots of the industry go back to Italy during the 1st Century B.C. Building on the foundations of a  More »

Terra sigillata wares were the classic fine wares of the Roman period. The roots of the industry go back to Italy during the 1st Century B.C. Building on the foundations of a pre-existing industry dedicated to black-slipped ware, the glossy red-slipped terra sigillata wares were first produced at Arezzo, in northern Tuscany. The industry expanded, and factories producing Italian-type sigillata were founded across the Mediterranean world, notably southern France and northern Spain. By the 3rd-4th Century A.D., the center of terra sigillata production had shifted south, to the shores of Roman North Africa. From the great port of Carthage, these wares were exported throughout the Mediterranean world and representative examples have been found from Israel to England.Characterized by a red-orange to red-brown clay and a slip of a more refined version of the same clay, these glossy household vessels were decorated by relief figures and stamped designs. Frequently, separately applied clay figures were cast in molds and added to the vessels as decoration. This vessel is a fine example of the very wares that were produced in North Africa. Immediately obvious is the glossy red slip that made these wares extremely durable and gave them their name. This particular work features two handles and a small round foot. The body has been divided into two sections framed by four applied palm leaves. Each section is decorated by a molded figures of a boxer and a dancer. Hundreds of years ago, this vessel was created in Roman North Africa, shipped out of Carthage, and landed on the table of a household somewhere across the vast empire. The history of this work is truly fascinating and is surmounted only by its beauty. - (X.0053)   « Less