A glass bottle dating from before the Crusades

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The antique glass is necessarily rare in good condition. This reinforces the exceptional nature of this bottle, which dates from the third century of the Hegira and that the Crusaders failed to break.

Yet that lot number 72 from the sale of Sotheby's in London on October 8, was announced with an unusual discretion in the press release from the auction house. So, contrary to my usual discipline, I went to seek more information directly in the catalog.

The object was made in Persia 1100 years ago. It is a round bottle with a long cylindrical neck, 17 cm high overall. The transparent body is adorned on both sides with an applied green layer representing horses in a dynamic attitude that is particularly successful, over a foliaged background. The neck is decorated with geometric designs cut into the glass with a wheel. We are told that this carving technique, similar to that used for cameos, is especially rare for glass, more difficult to work this way.

The conditions report indicates some misses and repairs, which probably justifies that the lower estimate does not exceed 300 K£ for this scarcity. I hope it will be more expensive.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

At 360 K £ including costs, this bottle was correctly sold. One might think that if its condition was perfect it could have reached a much better price.