Small Glass Vase - LO.940, Origin: Syria, Circa: 600 AD to 700 AD, Dimensions: 2.1" (5.3cm) high x 1.8" (4.6cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern Art, Style: Proto-Islamic,  More »

Small Glass Vase - LO.940, Origin: Syria, Circa: 600 AD to 700 AD, Dimensions: 2.1" (5.3cm) high x 1.8" (4.6cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern Art, Style: Proto-Islamic, Medium: free-blown 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. Late Roman glass made along the coasts of modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt that is usually classified as 'eastern Mediterranean” thus kept on being produced during the early Islamic period. Its features include the decoration with applied trails that could be pulled either from the same glass batch or from a different one. Applied trails were also used functionally as handles and feet; commonly the thread was patterned in zigzags or simple spirals. When trails of the same colour were used, they were manipulated with a pointed tool or a fine pincher after they were applied to the vessel. While weathering due to burial often prevents a full appreciation of the chromatic as well as the sculptural appeal of a glass vessel many have survived in excellent conditions and still convey a playful charm.   « Less

Underglaze Painted Jug - LO.996, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware.

Underglaze Painted Jug - LO.996, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware.   « Less

Turquoise-Glazed Jug with Moulded Decoration - LO.997, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.375" (16.2cm) high, Collection:  More »

Turquoise-Glazed Jug with Moulded Decoration - LO.997, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.375" (16.2cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Fritware. Turquoise glazed jug with squatted globular fluted body, almost straight sided neck and slightly everted rim. The neck and the shoulder featuring a moulded calligraphic band, while the lower fluted body showing vertically incised lines and two larger longitudinal plaited bands ending short of the base, left unglazed. The surface glaze enhanced by a beautiful iridescent golden patina.   « Less

Underglaze Painted Bowl - LO.998, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1250 AD, Dimensions: 2.50" (6.4cm) high x 5.75" (14.6cm) depth, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Underglaze Painted Bowl - LO.998, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1250 AD, Dimensions: 2.50" (6.4cm) high x 5.75" (14.6cm) depth, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Fritware. Well proportioned blue glazed deep bowl with black underglaze paint depicting a male figure seated amidst foliage in the cavetto, the medallion surrounded by pointed arrows. Below the rim a register of dotted circles interspersed with small v-shaped motifs. The rim painted with a black band. The exterior featuring a sequence of vertical double lines departing from the rim and ending just short of the foot, left unglazed.   « Less

Inlaid Copper Alloy Ewer - LO.1001, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium:  More »

Inlaid Copper Alloy Ewer - LO.1001, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Quarternary Bronze. Pear-shaped ewer standing on a rather high sloping foot. A simple raised collar at the base of the neck. The simple undulated strap handle with a bold palmette finial topped with a knob. The exterior of the body inlaid in silver with a horizontal register of calligraphic script under the collar, a row of arabesque cartouches on the belly and a further narrower band of geometric scrolls on the foot.   « Less

Engraved Bronze Ewer - LO.1002, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk,  More »

Engraved Bronze Ewer - LO.1002, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Bronze.   « Less

Early Islamic Incense Burner - LO.1004, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high x 10.5" (26.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Early Islamic Incense Burner - LO.1004, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high x 10.5" (26.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Abbasid, Medium: Copper-Alloy. Imposing incense burner with a cylindrical body standing on three feet, the base flat and pierced in a concentric pattern. The surface of the main body in openwork with a register of tri-lobed arches divided by triple columns. The domed lid featuring a similar pattern of lobed arches with the addition of a descending palmette from the top. The dome topped by a spherical knob with several perforations and a capped finial. The handle of square section pierced throughout and terminating with an animal head finial. This type of incense burner was already known in the Coptic and early Islamic periods, and it featured a standing form with a shallow cylindrical body, a domed lid, a long horizontal handle and three feet. Indeed six examples are known which belong to various international institutions including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Coptic Museum in Cairo and the Fouquet collection in Berlin, presumably all dating between the 8th and the 10th c. AD. Their shape must have been inspired by a Sasanian prototype, as the presence of triple arches with columns, the knobbed domed lid and the animal finial on the handle seem to imply. Yet this typology was not only favoured both in Egypt and in the eastern provinces during the Ummayad dynasty, but also later revived in the Ayubbid and Seljuq periods. The sobre decoration of our example would seem to point to an earlier date, perhaps 10th - 11th century AD.   « Less

Copper Alloy Bucket - LO.1005, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Quaternary  More »

Copper Alloy Bucket - LO.1005, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Quaternary Bronze. Bucket with bulbous body, slightly flaring rim and splayed foot, and a semi-circular handle of rather square profile. The lower part of the body decorated with a band in calligraphic script, the centre featuring small cartouches with arabesques, the upper part with a broad register of calligraphic script against an arabesque background. The rim also featuring small calligraphic bands interspersed by roundels. The bent handle with a knobbed finial in the centre of the arch.   « Less

Copper Alloy Engraved Dish - LO.1012, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.125" (15.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Copper Alloy Engraved Dish - LO.1012, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 6.125" (15.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Quarternary Bronze.   « Less

Seljuk Lionhead Glazed Plaque - LO.1031, Origin: Anatolia, Circa: 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Seljuk Lionhead Glazed Plaque - LO.1031, Origin: Anatolia, Circa: 13 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high x 5.5" (14.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Frit. Round turquoise-glazed tile in the shape of a lion's face, partially chipped on one side. The face, surrounded by a dotted border, with bulging eyes, rounded cheeks, large nose and downturned mouth. The almost humanised leonine face features also small ears and an incipient mane fur line on the front. The lion was one of the favourite animals in Islamic iconography, often symbolising the Prophet Ali, while drinking water from the faucets in the form of lions' mouths was thought to bring recovery from ilnesses as well as longevity.   « Less