Ancient Near East, Islamic, ca. 9th to 10th century CE. A beautifully preserved jar comprised of thick translucent glass and decorated with wheel-cut designs. Sitting upon a concave, octagonal base, the vessel has tall walls that rise to a curved shoulder, a short, cylindrical neck, and a circular rim, slightly curved inward. Each of its eight sides are divided into two horizontal registers and adorned with geometric designs and linear striations. Glassmakers in the Levant during the early first century BCE invented the technique of blowing glass through a hollow tube to inflate it, which made glass much easier to shape into everyday wares. Within a century, glass had replaced pottery for most everyday use throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East. Islamic glass makers inherited many techniques from the Byzantines and Sassanians, including the decorative application of molten glass, as on this piece. Thick, clear glass was favored for its strength and ability to withstand extensive cuts. Size: 1.375" in diameter x 3.5" H (3.5 cm x 8.9 cm)
Provenance: private Southern California collection, USA, bestowed 2006; ex-J. Malter collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2006
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#133877
Condition
Intact with minor nick to rim and miniscule stable hairline fissure to shoulder. Earthen film on interior commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with lovely iridescence.