Animal Flask
Unknown Artist
late 7th–8th century
Medium
Glass, amber-colored; blown, applied decoration
Dimensions
H. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm) Gr. L. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm) Gr. Diam. 1 7/8 in. (4.7 cm)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles S. Payson, 1969
Accession Number
69.153
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming *Animal Flask*, crafted by an unknown artist in the 7th–8th century, exemplifies the ingenuity of early Islamic glassmaking Fashioned from amber-colored glass using the blown technique with applied decoration, the flask stands just 4⅜ inches (11.1 cm) tall, with a graceful length of 3¼ inches (8.3 cm) and diameter of ⅞ inches (4.7 cm). Its whimsical animal form—likely evoking a creature in motion—transforms a functional vessel, possibly for perfumes or oils, into a delightful sculptural object. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art (gift of Mrs. Ch...