Bowl, greenish glass with wheel-cut decoration
Iraq or Iran; 9th-10th century
H 1.,7; Diam: 13.7 cm
This fragmented, thick-walled bowl is a masterpiece of early Islamic glass.
The blown body, which balances on a provocatively little foot, is decorated with a remarkable combination of abstract and naturalistic motifs that stand in relief after the interspaces were cut away. Stylized palmettes of the type taken from Sasanian art end in stems with large, strawberry-like bunches of grapes. In between them are almost nonfigurative, symmetrical plant ornaments.
Under the rim are “tongues,” cut parallel on both outside and inside. These tongues may have been used either to drink from or for pouring what – judging from the grapes – was probably wine.
Inv. no. 70/1998
Published in:
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 310;
Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom (eds.): Cosmophilia. Islamic Art from the David Collection, Copenhagen, McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Boston 2006, cat.no. 71;
Kjeld von Folsach: Flora islamica: plantemotiver i islamisk kunst, Davids Samling, København 2013, cat.no. 21;
