Name of Object:Glass tumbler Location:Damascus, Syria Holding Museum:National Museum of Damascus About National Museum of Damascus, Damascus Date of Object:Hegira 3rd century / AD 9th century Museum Inventory Number:ع 16021 Material(s) / Technique(s):Glass decorated with a coating of metallic lustre. Dimensions:Height 5.8 cm, diameter 7.5 cm Period / Dynasty:Abbasid Provenance:Damascus, Syria. Description:A white, translucent glass tumbler that was found in Palace B, where an inscription was found on the wall plaster thus associating the palace with the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim Billah. The glass is decorated with five vertically arranged lines of Arabic inscription that read: “drink and be filled with delight” and “made in Damascus.” It is, therefore, likely that the piece was made in Damascus and then transported to the Raqqa region. The spaces in between the inscriptions are decorated with a floral design. The object's decorative arrangement is executed in an applied coating of brown metallic lustre. It is believed that this type of lustre coating was used on glass before the technique was adapted for use on ceramics. View Short DescriptionThe application of metallic lustre was first used on glass, as evidenced by this Damascene tumbler dating to the 'Abbasid period, before it was famously applied on pottery. Original Owner:Caliph al-Mu’tasim Billah (r. AH 218–27 / AD 833–42) How date and origin were established:The tumbler is believed to be contemporary to Palace B, which has been dated to the period of Caliph al-Mu'tasim Billah (r. 218–27 / 833–42). How Object was obtained:The tumbler was found during archaeological excavations during the 1950s undertaken by the Syrian General Directorate of Antiquities under the direction of Nasib Salibi. How provenance was established:The inscription on the tumbler specifies that it was made in Damascus. Selected bibliography:Abu al-Faraj al-Ush, M., A Concise Guide to the National Museum of Damascus, Citation of this web page:Mona al-Moadin "Glass tumbler" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;sy;Mus01;7;en Prepared by: Mona Al-Moadin
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