© The Metropolitan Museum of Art


This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Animal flask

Location:

New York, United States of America

Holding Museum:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

About The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Date of Object:

Hegira mid 1st–late 2nd century / AD late 7th–8th century

Museum Inventory Number:

69.153

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Glass, amber-coloured; blown, applied decoration

Dimensions:

H: 11.1cm, Gr. L: 8.3cm, Gr. Diameter: 4.7cm

Period / Dynasty:

Umayyad or Abbasid

Provenance:

Probably Syria

Description:

During Roman and early Islamic times, animal‑shaped vessels were made using intricately decorated double or quadruple glass tubes. Draped with trailed glass threads that imitate protective cages, the tubes are carried on the backs of domestic animals. The uppermost portion of the cage in this example supports four projecting animal heads. Vessels like this one were probably used as containers for kohl or perfume.

How Object was obtained:

Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Payson, 1969

Former owner: Mrs. Charles S. Payson, New York (until 1969; gifted to MMA)

Selected bibliography:

Carboni, Stefano, Whitehouse, David, Brill, Robert H. and Gudenrath, William, Glass of the Sultans, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001: 112-14, no. 31, ill. p. 113 (colour).
Dimand, Maurice S., A Handbook of Muhammadan Art. 3rd rev. and enl. ed., New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1958: 231.
Ekhtiar, Maryam, Canby, Sheila R., Haidar, Navina and Soucek, Priscilla P. (eds), Masterpieces from the Department of Islamic Art in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1st ed., New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2011: 37, no. 14A, ill. 37 (colour).
Jenkins-Madina, Marilyn, "Islamic Glass: A Brief History", Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, 44 /2 (Fall 1986): 10, ill. fig. 1 (colour).
Swietochowski, Marie and Jenkins-Madina, Marilyn, Notable Acquisitions 1965–1975, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1975: 145, ill. (b/w).
Welch, Stuart Cary, The Islamic World. Vol. 11, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1987: 16, ill. fig. 4 (colour).

Additional Copyright Information:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Payson, 1969

Citation of this web page:

 "Animal flask" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;us;Mus23;37;en

MWNF Working Number: US3 37

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Abbasids

Umayyads


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Calligraphy Glass

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