Publication Date
Mid-thirteenth century AD
Publication Place
-
Al-Khalili Family Trust - Nasser D. Collection. Al-Khalili Islamic Art
Subject
Silk Lambas (Kamaha)
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
34.5 × 17.2 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
GLS 350
Record ID
object;EPM;uk;Mus21;6;ar
Library Location
Al-Khalili Family Trust - Nasser D. Collection. Al-Khalili Islamic Art
Date
Mid-thirteenth century AD
Notes
This finely decorated flask has a long neck decorated with a band of iris and enamel over it, a braided band and a row of standing male figures wearing church robes. Two people hold open books, perhaps missals. The body carries a band of seated people, drinkers and musicians. Among the people there are cups, drinking flasks or plates with coasters. On the shoulders of the flask, rosettes alternate with large birds that are clearly swans - in Western Europe a symbol of Christ and the concept of the Eucharist. The people wearing vestments and the swans could mean that the flask was ordered for a European person, perhaps a pilgrim, as a souvenir of a visit to the Holy Land or as a gift for a Christian church or monastery. The flask is a fine specimen that highlights the skills of Ayyubid glassmakers. The use of enamel on glass indicates that the Qarwa was made at an early stage in the development of the technique of using enamel that corresponds to the Ayyubid era.
Sample Text
"Enamelled flask" in Discover Islamic Art Collections. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;uk;Mus21;6;ar
