canteen
Object NameCanteen
Made FromGlass
Date800-999
Place Madepossibly Persia
Techniqueblown, applied, relief-cut
SizeOverall H: 24.9 cm, W: 19.8 cm, Th: 13.1 cm
Accession Number55.1.125
Curatorial Area(s)
Exhibitions
Glass from the Ancient World
Verres Antiques de la Collection R.W. Smith
Special Exhibition of Islamic Art
Not On View
Physical DescriptionColorless, with very small bubbles. Blown, applied, and relief-cut. Canteen: roughly globular, but flattened to form two broad and two narrow sides; one broad side appears to be flat, while other has convex vertical and horizontal profiles; narrow sides are also convex. Rim everted, with pointed pouring lip; neck cylindrical and wider at bottom than at top; shoulder curves out and down; lower wall tapers and curves in at bottom; base flat; no pontil mark. Two opposed earlike handles project from shoulder; seen from above, they are on vessel's longer axis; each is semicircular with plain surfaces and circular perforation (D. 0.75 cm) countersunk on both sides. Rim, neck, and body have vigorous relief-cut ornament up to 0.7 cm deep. On outside of rim: one continuous horizontal rib that follows outline of lip. On neck: one continuous horizontal rib at top and bottom, between which is vegetal scroll terminating in two half-palmettes below pouring lip and with full palmette equidistant from them. On shoulder and upper parts of narrow sides: elaborate cartouche encloses neck and handles, and terminates at each end in two symmetrical scrolling lines. On upper part of each broad side: cartouche, its upper border parallel to border of cartouche on shoulder and terminating in tendril and half of heart-shaped palmette, and its lower border curving out and down from mid-point; interior of cartouche has two concentric circles and dot at center and, on either side of them, single bird shown in profile standing to right, with horizontal body and legs, and head facing down. Flat side has, below cartouche, heart-shaped palmette on vertical stem at center, and indeterminate motif to left; at bottom of wall, heart-shaped palmette at center, flanked on either side by long-legged animal shown in profile leaping toward edge; animal has long tail with hatched tuft, and second "tail" attached to central palmette; space beyond and beneath animal is occupied by vegetal ornament, which includes heart-shaped palmette. Very little of bulging side survives, however, decoration appears to have included bird at left side; bottom may have included leaping animals, as on flat side (one paw and lower leg remains), with vegetal ornament and heart-shaped palmettes. Underside of base is decorated with two birds shown in profile, facing one another, their beaks touching; beaks are straight, heads small, and necks thick; bodies merge with pointed tails and wings are folded; legs are straight, with triangular feet. Birds stand on curved stems, which merge with vegetal ornament at bottom of first short sides; above their beaks is one straight stem, which also merges with ornament at bottom of second short side. Many outlines are notched; necks, wings, and legs of birds, and paws and tail of animals are hatched, and bodies of birds on underside of base have drilled dots.Provenance
Source
Ray Winfield Smith
(American, 1897-1982) - 1955-12-13
