A fine facet-cut green glass document holder, Persia, circa 7th century

The present and preceding lots are fine examples of the late-Sassanian style of glass-cutting which came to fruition on the very cusp of the Sassanid-Islamic transition. As a result, early Islamic glassmaking bore heavy Sassanid influences. The faceted honeycomb depressions on the glass are made possible by the technique of wheel-cutting. This technique required the glass to be very resilient and examples of this kind are thick and robust.

Whilst the technique was predominantly used on the production of glass bottles, rarer examples such as the current piece also exist. The nature of the item points to its stately use, and would suggest that it was a prestige item and reserved for use by individuals of rank.

For a further discussion of early Islamic wheel-cut glasswork, see Carboni 2001, pp.16-30.