A calligraphic mould-blown glass inkwell, Transoxiana or Khurasan, 9th-10th century

Inscriptions

baraka li-sahibihi

‘Blessing to its owner’

The ornamental Kufic inscription can be fruitfully compared to an inscription of the same phrase on an earthenware bowl from Samanid Transoxiana or Khurasan in the Sarikhani Collection (inv. no.I.CE.2098; Watson 2020, pp.76-77), especially in the rendition of the ha’ in sahibihi and the clear ‘frieze’ framing of the text. While the small scale of the inkwell and the inherent difficulty of rendering fine detail in mould-blown glass account for the less ornate execution of the inscription here, careful control of its key decorative elements allowed the glassblower to achieve a comparable effect.

A glass inkwell of very similar construction, but without an ornamental Kufic band, was excavated at Tepe Madraseh, Nishapur, in 1939. It is attributed to the ninth or tenth century and is now in the Iran Bastan Museum (inv. no.20381; Kröger 1995, p.176). A comparable inkwell of unadorned blue glass was sold in these rooms, 7 October 2009, lot 88.