Bottle - Aga Khan Museum
Aga Khan Development Network
 
The Aga Khan Museum: Glass, Rock Crystal and Jade - Fatimid,10th-11th century CE  Place your mouse over the image
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Classification
Glass, Rock Crystal and Jade

Object name
Bottle

Geography
Egypt

Period
Fatimid,10th-11th century CE

Dynasty
Fatimid

Materials and technique
Rock crystal

Dimensions
Height 6 cm

Accession number
AKM00651

Description

Precious objects fashioned from rock crystal were highly prized in Egypt. They may be linked to Fatimid Egypt as they are often mentioned in Fatimid treasury accounts, and there are extant objects inscribed with the names of Fatimid caliphs and officials. Valued throughout the centuries, Fatimid rock crystal objects are found today in European royal and church treasuries to which they were brought by Crusaders and travellers to the Holy Land. An extraordinary ewer in the San Marco church treasury, Venice, features an inscription with the name of the Fatimid Imam-caliph al-'Aziz (r. 975-96 CE). This tubular-shaped bottle has as its sole decoration a kufic script inscription in Arabic which translates as ‘Glory and prosperity to its owner’.

Other similar artefacts

10 pieces found

BOTTLELONGNECKED-BOTTLE-WITH-RELIEF-CUT-DECORATIONBOTTLEBEAKER-WITH-HANDLERECTANGULAR-BOXDISHTURQUOISE-BOTTLETURQUOISE-BOTTLE-WITH-APPLIED-AND-TRAILED-DECORATIONTALISMANIC-PENDANTJade-and-agate-Cups-with-dragons