Hand Blown Glass Vase

Islamic glassmakers were not only brilliant technicians and innovators in their own right, but they also preserved many of the methods of Late Antique Roman craftsmen, passing them on centuries later to Venetian and other European masters. This lovely book is the first comprehensive study of the accomplishments of these artisans. The volume presents glass objects from collections throughout the world -- from perfume flasks to pitchers, mosque lanterns to boxes, inkwells to vases -- ranging from the seventh to the nineteenth century and through many of the major artistic centers of the Muslim world. Five introductory essays cover all facets of the subject, including historical background, archaeological excavations, issues of connoisseurship, technology, and science. The authors then discuss 150 masterworks of Islamic glass, grouped by technique or type of decoration (blown, mold-blown, hot-worked, mosaic, painted, cut, and engraved), each of which is illustrated in lull color. Examples of European glass objects are also included as illuminating reference points.

For thousands of years an enigmatic and astonishingly beautiful piece of Roman art has captivated those who have come in contact with it.Made before the birth of Christ, the Portland Vase, as it is called, is renowned for both its beauty and its mystery. In The Portland Vase, Robin Brooks takes us on a vivid journey across Europe and through the centuries, as this delicate piece of glass, less than ten inches in height, passes through the hands of a stunning cast of characters, including the first Roman emperor, Augustus; a notorious tomb raider; a reckless cardinal; a princess with a nasty gambling habit; the ceramics genius Josiah Wedgwood; the secretive Duchess of Portland; and a host of politicians, dilettantes, and scam artists. Rich with passion, inspiration, jealousy, and endless speculation, the story of The Portland Vase spans more than two thousand years and remains one of the art world's greatest enigmas.