Ewer with birds and animals, 10th century
Found at Iran, Nishapur, Tepe Madrasa
Glass, colorless; blown, folded foot, applied handle, cut; H. 5 3/4 in. (14.5 cm), Max. Diam. 4 in. (10.2 cm), Diam. at rim 3 5/8 in. (9.1 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1939 (39.40.101)
Technical Glossary
Found at Iran, Nishapur, Tepe Madrasa
Glass, colorless; blown, folded foot, applied handle, cut; H. 5 3/4 in. (14.5 cm), Max. Diam. 4 in. (10.2 cm), Diam. at rim 3 5/8 in. (9.1 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1939 (39.40.101)
Decorated with quadrupeds and birds in roundels, this is one of the best examples of glass vessels with wheel cut designs, and was probably made in Nishapur. The two roundels on either side of the handle show long-tailed birds and the third bears a crouching lion. It was the only glass vessel found at Nishapur with a pattern of roundels around its body—a type of decoration that is, however, known from other examples of Sasanian and Islamic metalwork, textiles, ceramics, and glass. Broken when excavated, it has been reassembled from approximately twenty pieces and its surface retains slight traces of iridescence.
