A GROUP OF SEVEN ROCK CRYSTAL CARVINGS IN THE FORM OF ANIMALS, AFGHANISTAN, PERSIA OR IRAQ, 12TH/13TH CENTURY OR EARLIER

3 of the 7: Christie's London, 23 April 2002, lot 142.

The shape of these animals, with elongated bodies and small sizes suggest that they may originally have been part of larger vessels, for instance the thumb-piece, finial or handle of a ewer. One needs to look at metalwork examples to find similar forms (Fehervari 1976, pl.39) and for similar designs on the tripod bases of reliquaries, see Shalem 1998, pl.7, nos.34 and 34a. The facial features comprised of minimal geometric lines are reminiscent of Fatimid rock crystals such as a bottle in the form of a recumbent lion in the British Museum, London, inv. no.FBIs.12; and an ox, inv. no.118534.