Fragment of Inkwell

Art Historical Context

This delicate fragment of an inkwell likely from the 10th, offers a glimpse into the refined world of Islamic artistry during the Abbasid era. Crafted from greenish glass—a hue achieved through natural impurities in the silica—this small cylindrical piece (just 1¼ inches long and nearly 3 inches in diameter once held ink for scribes and scholars. Inkwells like this were everyday tools in a culture where calligraphy was both an art form and a sacred practice, essential for copying the Quran and advancing knowledge in science, poetry, and philosophy. The applied decoration technique highlights ...