Beaker

CultureSyrian (probably)
Titles
  • Beaker
Date13th century
MediumGlass; blown, tooled, enameled, gilded, and worked on the pontil
Dimensions4 1/8 × 3 1/2 in. diameter (10.5 × 8.9 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number70.110
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
113 Islamic Art Gallery
Exposé

Explore Further

Object Type
DescriptionIslamic artisans inherited glassmaking techniques and decorative repertoires developed by the Romans, Byzantines, and Sasanians. The MFAH glass objects on view exemplify some of the principal techniques and decorative innovations of early Islamic glassmakers. Mold-blown glass introduces inflated glass into a mold of wood or baked clay, carved with patterns in negative.Marvered glass is created by rolling molten glass against a marver, a strong flat surface containing glass pieces or trails. This allows colored glass pieces to adhere to the surface in intricate patterns. Cameo glass results from layering glass of different colors and carving it deeply enough so that the contrast color forms the design. Enameled glass is painted with vitreous enamel, or powdered glass, then fired to fuse different colors and designs.
ProvenanceRay Winfield Smith, Houston; purchased by MFAH, 1970.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Perfume sprinkler (qumqum)
13th century
Glass; blown, marvered, applied, tooled and worked on the pontil
70.108
Bottle
12th–13th century
Glass; mold blown, tooled, and worked on the pontil
70.107
Bottle
11th–12th century
Glass; blown, tooled, applied, and worked on the pontil
70.106
Bottle
9th–10th century
Glass; blown, tooled, incised, and worked on the pontil
70.105
Bottle
9th–10th century
Glass; blown, stamped, and worked on the pontil
70.103
Dish
11th–13th century
Glass; mold blown, tooled, and worked on the pontil
70.101
Beaker
c. 9th–10th century
Glass; blown, layered, and tooled, and relief cut (cameo technique)
70.104
Bottle
11th–12th century
Glass; blown, tooled, and applied
70.109
Overall front
20th century
Silver with copper inset; fire-gilded, with decorative wire, embossing, stamped beading, turquoise beads, and glass stones
2023.589
Overall front
late 19th–early 20th century
Silver; fire-gilded and chased, with openwork, decorative wire, perforated terminals, and pendants with cabochon carnelians.
2023.586
Overall front
mid–late 19th century
Silver; fire-gilded and chased, with decorative wire, chains, openwork, and table-cut carnelians.
2023.585
Overall front
late 19th–early 20th century
Silver; fire-gilded and chased, with table-cut carnelians.
2023.587