About the lot N° 585
Title : Crystal Vessel, Period : 10th century AD
Size : 368 grams, 11cm (4 1/4)Provenance : From an old British private collection, formed between 1975 and 1985.Literature : Notes : Quartz has been prized in a number of ancient cultures, with the Hellenistic kingdoms and the Roman Empire excelling at creating vessels carved from from the mineral. The Fatimid caliphate in Egypt was a period that was marked by a prosperity among the upper echelons, manifested in the creation of opulent and finely wrought objects in the decorative arts, including carved rock crystal, lustreware and other ceramics, wood and ivory carving, gold jewellery and other metal ware, textiles, books and coinage. These items not only reflected personal wealth, but were used as gifts to curry favour abroad. The most precious and valuable objects were amassed in the caliphal palaces in Cairo. Great skill was required to hollow out the raw rock crystal without breaking it and to carve the delicate, often very shallow, decoration that is often a feature of these objects.Condition report : Fine condition, usage wear.TimeLine Auctions, auctioneer, London, UK
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Sale title : Timeline Auctions - Antiquities, Day 1
Sale date : 30 Aug 2016
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Sale Reference : Live Sale
