Bottle with Gilded Flowers
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Glass, purple; mold blown, gilded
Dimensions
H. 2 1/2 in. (6.3 cm) W. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1975
Accession Number
1975.194.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate "Bottle with Gilded," crafted by an unknown artist in the18th century, exemplifies refined artistry of Islamic glassmaking. Standing just 2 1/2 inches tall 1 1/8 inches wide, this purple glass vessel was likely used to hold perfumes or scented oils, cherished items in Ottoman or Persian daily life. Its vibrant hue, achieved through metal oxides, and intricate gilded floral motifs evoke the lush gardens of paradise—a recurring theme in Islamic decorative arts, symbolizing beauty abundance. The bottle's showcases sophisticated techniques: mold-blown glass, where molten glass is bl...