Bottle
Unknown Artist
probably 18th–19th century
Medium
Glass; mold blown and gilded, tooled on the pontil
Dimensions
H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm) Max. Diam 4 5/16 in. (10.9 cm)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.1585
Art Historical Context
This elegant glass bottle, likely crafted in the 18th or 19th century, the refined artistry of Islamic glassmaking traditions. Standing at 10⅝ inches tall with a maximum diameter of ¼ inches, it served practical yet decorative purposes—perhaps for perfumes, oils, or rosewater—in households across the Islamic world, from the Ottoman Empire to Persia. Such vessels highlight the period's blend of functionality and opulence, where everyday objects became canvases for skilled craftsmanship. The bottle's medium reveals sophisticated techniques: mold-blown glass created textured patterns by inflatin...