Blown and Cut Glass Bottle

With its globular body, elongated, ribbed neck, and fully preserved rim, this flask or sprinkler is a classic example of an ancient cold-working technique that continued well into the Islamic period: wheel-cut glass decoration. The glass was first blown into the desired shape and then, once cold, the body was cut and further shaped with a hand-held tool or abrasive powders as for gemstone cutting. Such a technique is amply attested among Pre-Islamic Iranian glassware, which was appreciated and widely traded across Asia before the rise of Islam. The flask is decorated with rows of circular facets in a “honeycomb” pattern. The major decorative feature is given by the shadow-play of the elements in relief. It is an elegant object in which form and glass transparency (now covered by an iridescent patina caused by long contact with soil) is preferred to more exuberant applied and painted decoration. This kind of vessels was produced and remained en vogue especially in Iran between the 2nd and the 6th century AH/8th and the 13th century CE: the plain decoration and the use of colourless glass respond to a taste that was more common in the Eastern regions. Nevertheless, dating and attributing Islamic glass objects from this period remains a rather difficult task.