Title: Camel-shaped Flask
Date: 7th–9th century AD
Location: probably Syria
Materials: clear glass with a yellowish tinge, blown and tooled with trailed decoration of reddish glass
Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.8cm
Accession Number: GLS 598
Other Notes:
This shape is typical of Syrian containers for ointments (unguentaria) or for balsam (balsamaria), which could be single or double, as in this example, and were widely exported from the Roman period onwards. They contained scented pastes (scents in Islam and the ancient world were solid, not liquid) or aromatic substances dissolved in oil, such as chrism or balsam, which were esteemed for their therapeutic properties and exported particularly from Mecca. The balsam came north with the incense trade, brought by camel caravans from Arabia Petraea to the ports of the Syrian coast, so the use of a camel support for the twin flasks is picturesquely appropriate.
Bibliography:
S.M. Goldstein et al, Glass. From Sasanian Antecedents to European Imitations, The Nasser D Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, volume XV, London 2005, cat.19, pp.40–41.
J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.45, p.55.
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