Swan-neck Bottle (Ashkdan)

Unknown

19th century · Glass, greenish; dip-molded, blown folded foot · Islamic Art

The distinct tear-shaped opening at the top of this bottle was carefully tooled while the glass was still molten, and flows into a thin, curvilinear neck, before expanding to a globular body resting on a low foot. The visual resemblance to the curved and attenuated neck of a swan has inspired the name of these types of bottles, but according to folklore, these bottles were used as "containers for tears," (ashkdan) meant to collect the sorrows of wives separated from their husbands.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Glass, greenish; dip-molded, blown folded foot

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1883