Middle East, ca. 10th century CE. A fabulous Islamic glass vessel, the globular body cut with six concentric circular motifs, the form resolving to a cylindrical neck cut to present elegant facets above a ring base. Most impressive is the inherent beauty of this glass, with luminous spring green hues and a marvelous golden, rainbow iridescence. The total effect reminds me of an opal's kaleidoscopic dance of colors! Size: 2.875" W at widest x 3.125" H (7.3 cm x 7.9 cm)

The fall of the Roman Empire impacted the economy of the region including a decline in glassmaking. However, glassmaking continued in the Byzantine Empire of the eastern Mediterranean. The emergence of Islam inspired a society that maintained many of the cultural achievements lost in the west including such glassmaking techniques as cast and cut vessels, mosaic glass, free-blown and mold-blown wares. In the 10th and 11th centuries, casting and cutting techniques, akin to those manifested in this example, reached a pinnacle of achievement. Islamic glassmaking continued to demonstrate sophisticated approaches from the 12th through the 14th centuries.

Provenance: Ex-private New Jersey collection acquired in 1980's.

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#112450

Tiny chip to rim and a couple of stable cracks with possible repair to the bottom. Nevertheless a brilliant example.