Cup with a Poem on Wine

Art Historical Context

Behold the exquisite *Cup with a Poem on* by Ibn Sukkara-Hashimi, crafted the second half of the10th–11th. This silver vessel, weighing a substantial 6.3 ounces, hails from the Islamic world during a golden age of artistry under dynasties like the Abbasids or Buyids. Fire-gilded for a luxurious golden sheen, it was meticulously hammered from a single sheet of silver and adorned with chased designs—delicate engravings created by pressing tools into the softened metal. Such techniques showcased the artisan's mastery, transforming raw material into a shimmering object fit for elite banquets. At its heart lies an Arabic poem celebrating wine, a recurring motif in classical Arabic poetry despite Islamic prohibitions. These verses often evoked joy, love, and earthly pleasures metaphorically, inscribed on luxury goods to elevate everyday indulgences. The cup's elegant form and poetic inscription reflect the refined tastes of medieval Islamic courts, where metalwork rivaled ceramics and glass in prestige. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department (thanks to the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1964), this cup invites us to savor the interplay of poetry, craftsmanship, and culture—a tangible echo of a vibrant era.