Publication Date
Third quarter of the 7th century / third quarter of the 13th century
Publication Place
-
British Museum
Subject
Gilded enamelled glass.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع 23 سم؛ الطول 23 سم؛ العرض 16.2 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1869.1-20.3
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus01;22;ar
Library Location
British Museum
Date
Third quarter of the 7th century / third quarter of the 13th century
Notes
A spherical blown glass vase decorated with enamel. One of the wider sides, and the lower half of the two narrower parts, are flat. The colors of the enamel are varied: there are red, white, blue, light green, yellow, pink, violet and dark grey. Two lugs are glued to either side of the cylindrical neck. The flat part is decorated with an eleven-petal rose enclosure inside an eight-petal flower containing floral shapes, while the curved side is decorated with a quatrefoil shape and another geometric shape filled with arabesques and surrounded by decorations that end with human, animal and bird heads. To the left of the curved side there is a knight killing an animal with a spear. The knight is bearded, has a halo on his head, and wears a conical hat decorated with ribbons. Under this figure there is a medallion bearing a harpist wearing a veil and a long cloak. On the other narrow side, there is a knight under a tree killing a lion with a club, and birds flying overhead, with a halo around his head, and he is wearing a long cloak and high-heeled shoes. On the circular medallion below him there is a man sitting cross-legged and holding a cup in his hand, drinking. The sleeves of his cloak are decorated with terrasse bands. The two knights are reminiscent of Christian iconography, while the shapes in the medallions are typical of those found in Islamic art. The mixing of figures suggests that the shepherd was either a Muslim familiar with Christian images or a Christian who appreciated the work of Muslim craftsmen. The shape of this vessel is reminiscent of unglazed leather vessels or jugs, not of other glass or metal objects. Although this vessel was made of glass, it was carried in a leather container on trips or in Hajj. It was certainly a luxury item, and may have been made as a gift.
Sample Text
Emily Shovelton “Pilgrim’s Bag” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;22;ar
