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Animal flask
New York, United States of America
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
About The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Hegira mid 1st–late 2nd century / AD late 7th–8th century
69.153
Glass, amber-coloured; blown, applied decoration
H: 11.1cm, Gr. L: 8.3cm, Gr. Diameter: 4.7cm
Umayyad or Abbasid
Probably Syria
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.
Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Payson, 1969
Former owner: Mrs. Charles S. Payson, New York (until 1969; gifted to MMA)
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).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Payson, 1969
"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