Islamic Glass Bottle in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 2019

Enameled and Gilded Bottle
late 13th century


Object Details

Title: Enameled and Gilded Bottle

Date: late 13th century

Geography: Attributed to Egypt, possibly Cairo

Medium: Glass, greenish; blown, folded foot; enameled and gilded

Dimensions: H. 17 1/8 in. (43.5 cm)
Max. Diam. 11 in. (27.9 cm)

Classification: Glass

Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1941

Accession Number: 41.150

The size and delicate decoration of this bottle are remarkable; few such large or painterly examples of enameled glass are known. The polychrome phoenix on the neck soars above the central scene of mounted warriors wielding maces, swords, and bows. The warriors might well be participants in a horsemanship exercise, outfitted as combatants from the rival Ilkhanid and Mamluk states.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/450409