Islamic Glass Perfume Bottle - GF.0156, Origin: Jericho, Palestine, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Near Eastern, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In the presence of this  More »

Islamic Glass Perfume Bottle - GF.0156, Origin: Jericho, Palestine, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Near Eastern, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In the presence of this gorgeous bottle, our imagination drifts to cool secluded gardens, fragrant with rose and orange blossoms, to the murmur of marble fountains and the melancholy songs of night birds. The court poets of Islam wrote about these things, and about their beloveds scented with delicate perfumes. We hold the bottle and suddenly we are there, we hear the sounds, we smell the scents.   « Less

Islamic Glass Molar Flask - GF.0161, Origin: Egypt, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Collection: Islamic, Style: Mold-Blown/Cut, Medium: Glass, The shoulder of this translucent  More »

Islamic Glass Molar Flask - GF.0161, Origin: Egypt, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Collection: Islamic, Style: Mold-Blown/Cut, Medium: Glass, The shoulder of this translucent yellowish colourless “molar” flask is angular. The base of the neck was grooved, the neck is multisided and flared at the top. The grooved decoration consists of a horizontal band, and V-shaped elements at each corner on the body. The feet of the vessel are short and wedge-shaped.   « Less

Islamic Molded Glass Vessel - GF.0238, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4" , (10.2cm) high x 2.625" (6.7cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern,  More »

Islamic Molded Glass Vessel - GF.0238, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 4" , (10.2cm) high x 2.625" (6.7cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, Glass has been prized by mankind for centuries. The qualities that delighted the ancients, the clarity, transparency, brilliance and malleability of glass, are the same ones that appeal to modern sensibilities. Early writers described glass in terms of wonderment: "Congealed of air, condensed of sunbeams, molded from the light of the open plain, or peeled from a white pearl." The passage of centuries serves to make glass even lovelier than when it was new, for time graces its surface with a jewel-like iridescence. We today cannot help but marvel that something so delicately lovely has survived since Islam was in early flower. As we take pleasure in its beauty, we transcend the ages, and share our emotions with the citizens of a vanished world.   « Less

Islamic Miniature Glass Vessel Amulet - GF.0290, Origin: The Holy Land, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In exquisite  More »

Islamic Miniature Glass Vessel Amulet - GF.0290, Origin: The Holy Land, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In exquisite miniature, this pitcher imitates larger glass vessels in everyday use. Created from a few drops of molten glass, it may well have contained the rarest bit of essence or perfume when the classical world was at her peak. As we contemplate this charming object, we cannot help but wonder what function it served so long ago. Did it hang around the neck of some legendary beauty, filling her senses with sweet perfume? Did it protect against some common ailment or keep the wearer free from the excesses of drinking? Its past remains as much a mystery as its size. Yet, as we hold this small token of antiquity in our hands, we share our pleasure with those who lived in a distant age.   « Less

Islamic Miniature Glass Vessel Amulet - GF.0292, Origin: The Holy Land, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In exquisite  More »

Islamic Miniature Glass Vessel Amulet - GF.0292, Origin: The Holy Land, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In exquisite miniature, this pitcher imitates larger glass vessels in everyday use. Created from a few drops of molten glass, it may well have contained the rarest bit of essence or perfume when the classical world was at her peak. As we contemplate this charming object, we cannot help but wonder what function it served so long ago. Did it hang around the neck of some legendary beauty, filling her senses with sweet perfume? Did it protect against some common ailment or keep the wearer free from the excesses of drinking? Its past remains as much a mystery as its size. Yet, as we hold this small token of antiquity in our hands, we share our pleasure with those who lived in a distant age.   « Less

Islamic Miniature Glass Vessel Amulet - GF.0293, Origin: The Holy Land, Circa: 7 th Century AD to 9 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In  More »

Islamic Miniature Glass Vessel Amulet - GF.0293, Origin: The Holy Land, Circa: 7 th Century AD to 9 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass, In exquisite miniature, this pitcher imitates larger glass vessels in everyday use. Created from a few drops of molten glass, it may well have contained the rarest bit of essence or perfume when the classical world was at her peak. As we contemplate this charming object, we cannot help but wonder what function it served so long ago. Did it hang around the neck of some legendary beauty, filling her senses with sweet perfume? Did it protect against some common ailment or keep the wearer free from the excesses of drinking? Its past remains as much a mystery as its size. Yet, as we hold this small token of antiquity in our hands, we share our pleasure with those who lived in a distant age.   « Less

Islamic Glass Vessel - X.0636, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 600 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 2.75" , (7.0cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern, Style:  More »

Islamic Glass Vessel - X.0636, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 600 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 2.75" , (7.0cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm) wide, Collection: Near Eastern, Style: Islamic, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Early Islamic Glass Vessel - X.0638, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 600 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 4.75" , (12.1cm) high x 3.125" (7.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic  More »

Early Islamic Glass Vessel - X.0638, Origin: Eastern Mediterranean, Circa: 600 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 4.75" , (12.1cm) high x 3.125" (7.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Glass, Style: Mold Blown/Tooled, Medium: Glass, Condition: Extra Fine, The advent of Islam in the seventh century and the empire created by its adherents had little immediate impact on glass production. In the Eastern Mediterranean Classical-Byzantine forms and techniques continued to be practiced, whilst further east Parthian-Sassanian traditions prevailed. By the late eighth century however it is possible to discern a distinctively 'Islamic' style of glass. Cultural ties across the empire and the migration of craftsmen from one area to another helped to fuse Classical and Near-Eastern traditions. Whilst it is certainly true that one of the characteristic features of Islamic glass is the emphasis on decoration, undecorated vessels of great beauty were also created. Many of these were used for everyday purposes by the urban population- as tableware, containers for oils and perfumes, storage vessels, oil lamps and even for scientific and medicinal equipment.   « Less

Early Islamic Glass Bottle - LO.911, Origin: Syria, Circa: 600 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 2.25" (5.7cm) high x 1.8" , (4.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Free  More »

Early Islamic Glass Bottle - LO.911, Origin: Syria, Circa: 600 AD to 800 AD, Dimensions: 2.25" (5.7cm) high x 1.8" , (4.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Free Blown/Applied Decoration, Medium: 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.   « Less

Islamic Miniature Glass Juglet - pf.8049dc, Origin: Mediterranean/ Jerusalem, Circa: 600 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic Glass, Medium: glass.

Islamic Miniature Glass Juglet - pf.8049dc, Origin: Mediterranean/ Jerusalem, Circa: 600 AD to 900 AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic Glass, Medium: glass.   « Less