Collection Highlights: Arts of the Islamic World

late 13th century
Mamluk period
Glass
H: 29.5 W: 17.2 D: 17.2 cm
Syria
Purchase F1948.14

Enameled glass vessels were one of the most sought-after luxury items of medieval Syria and Egypt, avidly collected by wealthy patrons throughout the Islamic world and beyond. A technical virtuosity, enameled glass was created by outlining the decorative elements with red enamel and filling them in with white, blue, green, yellow and other colors. Much like the process for luster-painted ceramics, the enamel was applied cold and fixed to the surface by firing the vessel again at a low temperature. This fluted, honey-colored beaker is one of the largest drinking vessels to survive intact from the Mamluks in Egypt and Syria (1250-1517). Its decoration is probably inspired by contemporary manuscript paintings and depicts courtly figures and scenes of royal pastimes, such as hunting and polo.

early 15th century
Timurid period
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
H: 25.7 W: 18.4 cm
Iran
Purchase F1931.36

10th century
Samanid period
Earthenware painted under glaze
H: 11.2 W: 39.3 D: 39.3 cm
Iran
Purchase F1957.24

This deep bowl exemplifies the high technical quality and compositional sophistication achieved in 10th-century ceramics from northeastern Iran. Its central decoration consists of an abstract tree with five branches ending in palmettes and revolving around a small rosette. The dominant counter-clockwise movement of the stems is subtlely reversed by a branch to the trunk's left— a shift that ingeniously draws attention to the ovoid mark at the beginning of the Arabic inscription below. This inscription is bordered at the rim by a band of red and black scallops and on the walls by a series of irregular panels following the contours of the letters. It translates as follows: "It is said that he is content with his own opinion runs into danger. Blessing to the owner."

mid-16th century
Signed by Muhammad Haravi
Safavid period
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
H: 34.1 W: 24.0 cm
Herat, Afghanistan
Purchase F1937.8

After the late fifteenth century in Iran, artists not only worked on illustrated manuscripts, but they also composed individual paintings and drawings that were gathered in albums. Among the most popular subject matter for album page compositions was that of elegant, often contemplative, young men and women. Like this meticulously dressed youth by Muhammad Haravi (i.e., from the city of Herat), the figures are idealized and frequently are portrayed with certain props, such as a book, a wine cup, or a flower.

These images may no longer relate directly to a specific text, but they can be interpreted as visual evocations of certain Persian poetic conceits, such as youthful beauty, the solace of wine, or yearning for the beloved. The youth's elaborate coat, representing a fine Safavid figural textile, is particularly noteworthy. Decorated with warriors taking both male and female prisoners, the animated design stands in sharp contrast to the calm, meditative expression of the youth.