IRAN, CIRCA 7TH CENTURY

Details

A SASSANIAN OR POST SASSANIAN WHEEL CUT GLASS CUP
IRAN, CIRCA 7TH CENTURY
Of domed cylindrical form with slightly flaring mouth and flattened foot, the sides engraved with staggered rows of circular depressions, repaired breaks, areas of high iridescence
6 1/8in. (15.5cm.) high; 4 5/8in. (11.8cm.) diam.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium Please note that the lots of Iranian origin are subject to U.S. trade restrictions which currently prohibit the import into the United States. Similar restrictions may apply in other countries.

Lot Essay

The size and shape of this cup are most unusual. many smaller hemispherical examples are known, but there appear to be no published examples on the scale seen here. The large wheel-cut circles forming a honeycomb lattice are found on numerous Sassanian and post-Sassanian vessels. There has been some discussion as to how to date them, summarised in his discussions of the finds at Nishapur by Jens Kröger (Nishapur Glass of the Early Islamic Period, New York, 1995, pp.129-131). In contrast to the circles found on most vessels of this period, the examples here are considerably larger and more pronounced, having more in common with a small group of solidly made glass bottles such as one sold in these Rooms 15 October 2002, lot 82.

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