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Bottle with Molded Designs of Animals

9th–10th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 451
Abbasid glassmakers continued earlier traditions of glassmaking while incorporating new ornamental motifs. This slightly irridescent bottle showcases several sophisticated glass-making methods. The difficult "incalmo" technique fuses the dark blue glass neck and upper body of the bottle with the lower section of green glass. The lower body is impressed with five medallions, each containing the stylized figure of a running animal with long ears and a tail that ends in a palmette-like motif. The patterns call to mind griffins, birds, gazelles, or rabbits, ornamental motifs popular in Abbasid molded glass and in other media, particularly luster ceramics.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bottle with Molded Designs of Animals
  • Date: 9th–10th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iraq or Syria
  • Medium: Glass; blown in two parts, impressed with tongs
  • Dimensions: H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
    Diam. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1908
  • Object Number: 08.138.2
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Goblet with Incised Designs
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Fragmentary Cup with Molded Designs in the Beveled Style, Glass, colorless; blown, impressed with tongs
Fragmentary Cup with Molded Designs in the Beveled Style
9th century
Animal flask, Glass, yellowish and pinkish; blown, applied decoration
Animal flask
late 7th–8th century
Ointment Bottle, Bronze
Ointment Bottle
7th–8th century
Vase with Five Discs, Glass, colorless; blown, applied trail, applied stamped medallions
Vase with Five Discs
8th century

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