New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Bottle

Manufacturer Unknown

CulturePersian | Sassanian

Date6-7th century A.D.

MediumGlass

DimensionsOverall: 8 in. (20.3 cm)
Overall, Rim: 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

Object number71.6761

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 116-1, Case 4

DescriptionBottle of cut clear yellowish glass. Pear shaped with a narrow flat rim. Facet cut. Nine rows of ovals. Covered with many nicks around the rim. Hole, probably drilled, in the center of the polished pontil. Seems broken under a thick layer of composition.

Label TextVASE Persia, Sassanian Dynasty 3rd-7th Century A.D. Blown glass, originally colorless; cut. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.6761 (GAnPe 66.3) This rare vase belongs to a group of similarly shaped facet-decorated vases that share a mysterious feature. Each has a small neatly drilled hole in its bottom. Perhaps these vases were one lounted in precious metal stands (long since melted down) or perhaps the holes were drilled for ritual purposes when the vases were placed in tombs.Published ReferencesCorning _Journal of Glass Studies_, V, pg. 144-145, Sassanian.