Bell-shaped Flask

Location: Iran or Egypt

Materials: deep blue glass, pattern moulded, blown in the half-post technique and tooled

Dimensions: 19.8 x 10.6cm

Accession Number: GLS 333

Other Notes:

Bell-shaped flasks in both cast metal and blown glass were made in medieval Islam over a wide area, from Tunisia eastwards to Khurasan. Deep cobalt-blue glass was favoured in the eastern parts of Islam, as was the half-post technique, in which the neck and lower part of the vessel were made and decorated separately: this enabled the glass to be worked inside as well as on the exterior.

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.152, pp.124–5.
J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.147, pp.125.