Beaker, 9th–10th century
Western Asia or Egypt
Blown, tooled, and relief-cut glass
Technical Glossary
Western Asia or Egypt
Blown, tooled, and relief-cut glass
H. 5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm), Diam. at lip 5 9/16 in. (14.2 cm), Wt. 118.932g
Purchase, Rogers Fund and Jack A. Josephson, Dr. and Mrs. Lewis Balamuth, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin W. Pearson Gifts, 1974 (1974.45)
In its size, state of preservation, and fineness of execution, this piece has few parallels in Islamic relief-cut glass. The decoration consists of a band of palmettes, half-palmettes, and floral motifs on two scrolls between two horizontal ridges. Early Islamic carved rock-crystal vessels reputedly produced in Egypt demonstrate a close similarity in technique and design.
