A Mamluk enamelled glass beaker, Egypt or Syria, 13th century
Auction Closed
March 31, 12:40 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
of tapering cylindrical form broadening toward the mouth, clear glass body with a gilt and enamelled calligraphic band under the lip, entwined arabesque motifs containing raised decorative dots to centre
11.5cm. height.; 10.3cm. max diam.
Asfar Brothers, Beirut, Lebanon
acquired from the above by Mr Robert W. Frischmuth, Cleveland, USA, 1967
acquired from the above by Mr Robert W. Frischmuth, Cleveland, USA, 1967
inscriptions
Forever lasting glory and safe life and rising fortune and abundance
This beaker has the distinctive base structure unique to beakers produced in the Middle East in the thirteenth and fourteenth century: a separate pad of glass was applied to the foot of the vessel which causes the inner wall to dome while the top part is pulled down in the centre where it touches the pad, leaving a distinctive dimple in its top (R. Ward, ed., Gilded and Enamelled Glass from the Middle East, London, 1998, pp.52-3). The use of raised dot work to decorate the interiors of the arabesque design is unusual for the period. An interesting comparison can be drawn between this beaker and the so called "Coupe de Charlemagne" which is an enamelled Mamluk glass beaker with blue and white dot work underneath an inscription in the Musée de Chartres, inv.5144 (ibid., p. 51, colour plate 14.9).
Evidence has suggested that these beakers were originally produced in sets, that could be stacked together (S. Carboni, Glass from Islamic Lands, the al-Sabah collection, London, 2001, p.334). Painted representations of contemporary life frequently show noble figures seated holding vessels of similar profile suggesting courtly use by an aristocratic clientele.
Forever lasting glory and safe life and rising fortune and abundance
This beaker has the distinctive base structure unique to beakers produced in the Middle East in the thirteenth and fourteenth century: a separate pad of glass was applied to the foot of the vessel which causes the inner wall to dome while the top part is pulled down in the centre where it touches the pad, leaving a distinctive dimple in its top (R. Ward, ed., Gilded and Enamelled Glass from the Middle East, London, 1998, pp.52-3). The use of raised dot work to decorate the interiors of the arabesque design is unusual for the period. An interesting comparison can be drawn between this beaker and the so called "Coupe de Charlemagne" which is an enamelled Mamluk glass beaker with blue and white dot work underneath an inscription in the Musée de Chartres, inv.5144 (ibid., p. 51, colour plate 14.9).
Evidence has suggested that these beakers were originally produced in sets, that could be stacked together (S. Carboni, Glass from Islamic Lands, the al-Sabah collection, London, 2001, p.334). Painted representations of contemporary life frequently show noble figures seated holding vessels of similar profile suggesting courtly use by an aristocratic clientele.