vase

Object NameVase

Made FromGlass, Enamel, Gilded

Dateabout 1310-1330

TechniqueBlown, gilded, enameled, applied

SizeOverall H: 30.2 cm, Diam (max): 16.2 cm

Accession Number55.1.36

Curatorial Area(s)

Early Modern

Exhibitions

Glass of the Sultans

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Enameled and gilded glass is the most celebrated type of glass from the Islamic world. During the 13th and 14th centuries, in a region that now includes Egypt and Syria, Ayyubid and Mamluk glassmakers lavished their creative efforts on generously proportioned and richly painted objects. The shape of this handled vase and its parallels is unknown in Mamluk metal and ceramic production, and it has been suggested that the glassmakers were inspired by Chinese ceramic vases with dragon handles. The decorative composition of the vase is particularly well balanced. It consists of lively schools of fish at the top and bottom, a prominent inscription, a heraldic six-petaled rosette, and staggered circular medallions that enlarge proportionally with the body of the object. The rosette has been interpreted as the emblem of several Mamluk emirs.

Place Made

possibly Egypt; possibly Syria

Physical DescriptionVase. Colorless with yellow (honey-colored) tint and with many small and large, often spike-like bubbles and few large blowing-spirals; slight wear, interior slightly dull; free blown, gilded and enameled, applied handles. Vase: Pear-shaped body with concave base having very rough pontil mark, applied ring-base with airtrap, cylindrical neck with wide flaring top, rim with airtrap folded outwards; a pair of snake-like wavy handles with one large loop applied to shoulder and neck. Decoration from bottom to top; golden fish with red outlines, an Arabic inscription - gold with blue filling "in relief" - repeating "the Wise" together with two medallions in gold with blue dots showing arabesques, on the shoulder arabesques in gold with blue dots and two medallions on each side showing arabesques in gold and floral motifs in green, blue, red, yellow and white "in relief", around the neck arabesques in gold with multicolored dots "in relief" and with two medallions (coat-of-arms) showing a golden rosette with six leaves on a red background "in relief", this frieze being bordered by two narrow bands with arabesques and blue dots, below rim another frieze with fish. The handles join the shoulder at pointed golden medallions or "Norman shields".
Provenance

Provenance Remark

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