Inkwell with Cut Decoration

Unknown

10th century · Glass, greenish; blown, applied lip and handles, cut · Islamic Art

The tube descending into this vessel is just wide enough to receive a reed pen and keep the ink from splashing about when the inkwell was suspended from the scribe's wrist or belt by chains attached to its four loop handles. Other inkwells of this type - glass as well as metal or ceramic - have been found in Iran and were probably in use until the twelfth or thirteenth century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th century

Medium

Glass, greenish; blown, applied lip and handles, cut

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Anonymous Gift, 1969