Fragment of a glass floor tile with a plaster base
Damascus, Syria
National Museum of Damascus
About National Museum of Damascus, Damascus
Caliph al-Mu'tasim Billah (r. AH 218–27 / AD 833–42)
Hegira 218–27 / AD 833–42
ع 16037
Moulded glass; plaster.
Height 20 cm, diameter 14 cm
Abbasid
Raqqa region, Syria.
A fragment of a glass floor tile that was found amongst a group of glass tiles in the southern wing of the palace, in the formal reception hall no. 9, which was paved with glass tiles. The floor of the hall was first covered with a thick layer of plaster and then green glass tiles were placed on top. The bottom surface of the glass tiles is toothed to allow the glass to be embedded into the plaster. The upper face of the glass tiles is smooth but also wavy to prevent those walking on it from slipping.
The Abbasid period is distinguished by prosperity and extravagance. Historical sources contain references to luxurious palaces, the floors of which were paved with glass tiles. Palace B, located in the Raqqa region, extending to the east of the Euphrates River and bordered by its tributary the Balikh River, is one such palace.
The use of glass floor tiles, reminiscent of the glass floor in King Solomon's legendary meeting with Queen Sheba as described in the Holy Qur'an, is here found at the 'Abbasid palaces of Raqqa.
An inscription found in the palace refers to the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim and scholars date the palace to around 220 / 835.
The tile fragment was found during archaeological excavations undertaken during the 1950s by the Syrian General Directorate of Antiquities under the direction of Nasib Salibi.
The tile fragment was found in Palace B and was probably produced in situ.
Abu al-Faraj al-Ush, M., A Concise Guide to the National Museum of Damascus,
Damascus, 1969, p.161.
Carboni, S., and Whitehouse, D., Glass of the Sultans, New York, 2001.
Daiber, V., and Becker, A., Raqqa III, Mainz, 2004, p.100; fig. 17.
Kohlmeyer, K. (ed), Land des Baal, Mainz, 1982.
Mona al-Moadin "Fragment of a glass floor tile with a plaster base" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;sy;Mus01;9;en
MWNF Working Number: SY 15
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