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

Name of Object:

Molar glass flacon

Location:

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (Sharjah)

Holding Museum:

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation

About Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation, Sharjah

Date of Object:

Hegira 3rd – 4th century / AD 9th – 10th century

Museum Inventory Number:

SM 1996 – 79

Period / Dynasty:

Abbasid / Fatimid?

Provenance:

Possibly Egypt or Near East

Description:

This tiny cut-glass container owes its name to its shape, which resembles a molar tooth with its four wedge-shaped, pointed feet. Originally provided with a stopper, these bottles were used most probably to store and convey expensive perfumes, oils and cosmetic essences. Rich consumers had the shape copied in ivory, metal or even rock crystal.

Citation of this web page:

 "Molar glass flacon" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;ua;Mus21;35;en

MWNF Working Number: UA 35