Publication Date
694/ 95-1296
Publication Place
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Subject
Gilded glass inlaid with enamel.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 15.3 سم؛ العرض: 10.7 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
C.153–1936
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus02;22;ar
Library Location
Victoria and Albert Museum
Date
694/ 95-1296
Notes
A small but heavy glass vessel made of dark violet glass, gilded and decorated with white, red and pale blue enamel. This vessel, with its distinctive shape, belongs to a group of similar vessels known as “spherical-conical”, as the upper part takes on a semi-spherical shape, while the lower part narrows as it slopes downward. The neck of the vessel also narrows at the opening. The main decoration on the vessels is a band of white inscription that includes: “Glory be to our master, the Sultan, King Al-Ashraf, Abu Al-Fath, Omar bin Sultan, King Al-Muzaffar.” Above the inscription, the floral decorations alternate with circular medallions filled with colored triangles, and below the inscription, the same floral decorations appear alternating with pointed circles. The spherical-conical vessels, which were usually made of ceramics rather than of glass, are considered a puzzle. Their function is unclear, and experts believe they were hand grenades, weights for looms, containers for holy water, or perfume sprays. One recent theory suggests that they were vessels for drinking a beer-like drink called “faqa.” This vessel belongs to a group of 50 pieces made during the Mamluk period as a gift to the Rasulid sultans of Yemen who had close diplomatic and commercial contacts with the Mamluks. The Sultan mentioned in the inscription is King Al-Ashraf Omar II bin Al-Muzaffar, who ruled in 694 / 5-1296. Some researchers believe that the circular medallion that includes patterns of triangles was his personal emblem, and it was used here instead of the usual emblem of the Rasulids, which is the flower with five petals.
Sample Text
Barry Wood "Marsha" in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus02;22;ar
