Bottle, yellowish glass with relief-cut decoration
Iraq or Iran; 9th-10th century
H: 14; Diam: 10.5 cm
The bottle was cut with a pattern that is typical of the Samarra style. The decoration, based on highly stylized plant forms, was carefully composed in a way that teases the beholder’s perception. At first glance, certain shapes seem to form the pattern, but on closer inspection they actually create the background for others that now seem to do so.
There are minor restorations on the bottle, and the top of the neck is modern. An irregularity in the pattern on the body comes from a restoration. This could indicate that the bottle might originally have had a handle.
Inv. no. 15/1964
Published in:
C .L. Davids Samling. Fjerde Del : Jubilæumsskrift 1945-70, København 1970, cat.no. 16, pp. 136-137;
André Leth: Davids Samling. Islamisk kunst = The David Collection. Islamic Art, København 1975, p. 16;
The arts of Islam : Hayward gallery, 8 April - 4 July 1976, London 1976, cat.no. 127;
Marianna S. Simpson: L'art islamique. Asie: Iran, Afghanistan, Asie centrale et Inde, Paris 1983, p. 32;
Art from the World of Islam. 8th-18th century, Louisiana, Humlebæk 1987, cat.no. 15;
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 218;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 309;
