Fragment of Disk with Bird

Object Name: 
Fragment of Disk with Bird

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Object Name: 
Fragment of Disk with Bird
Place Made: 
Accession Number: 
55.1.25
Dimensions: 
Overall Dim (max): 15.1 cm; Estimate Diam: greater than 17 cm
Location: 
Not on Display
Date: 
1175-1299
Primary Description: 
Fragment of Disk with Bird. Translucent deep blue, with few very small bubbles; decorated in greenish yellow. Presumably blown; stained. Fragment of slightly concave disk (Th. [toward edge] 0.15 cm and [at center] 0.3 cm). Side descends in almost imperceptible curve, and center is almost flat; concave upper surface is smooth and shiny, while convex underside is rough and matte. Decorated on upper surface only. At center (D. about 10.5 cm), roundel with double border containing bird standing in left profile. Bird has small head, with pointed beak and crest of three feathers, long and curving neck, body that tapers toward tail, and sturdy legs; it stands among scolling stems with tendrils and leaves, most of which are small; above its head, however, is one larger leaf with narrow, curving outline; background contains scattered dots and comma-like motifs; body of bird, large leaf, and several other elements are solid, while stems and tendrils are represented by single lines. Roundel is surrounded by concentric band of radiating tear-shaped motifs, alternating with short radial lines, all superimposed on continuous zigzag; spacing of tear-shaped motifs suggests that complete circumference contained about 30. Traces of additional ornament existed outside band of tear-shaped ornament, but too little remains to suggest its identity. Underside has bluish gray to light brown surface, which is granular and has minute cavities and rounded protrusions composed of glass (W. up to 0.3 cm); examination under low magnification reveals thin layer of whitish material between glass and grayish surface; close examination also reveals that protrusions formed at surface of glass and penetrated white layer. No visible pontil mark.
Provenance: 
Tano, Nicholas, Source
1955-04-06
Category: 
An Unusual Fragment of Ayyubid Glass (2007) illustrated, pp. 121-126, esp. p. 126;