ISLAMIC, INDIAN ART & JEWELS

Lot 241:

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A RARE MAMLUK MARVERED GLASS BOWL, EGYPT OR SYRIA, 13TH - 14TH CENTURY

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Start price: £180

Estimated price: £200 - £400

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Description

A remarkably preserved example of Mamluk marvered glass, this shallow hemispherical bowl displays the characteristic horizontal trails of opaque white glass fused onto a deep cobalt body, then marvered to create its distinct ribbed surface. The vessel’s form is simple yet elegant, with gently curving walls rising from a rounded base, showcasing the refined glass-working traditions of the medieval Islamic world.


Now exhibiting an attractive surface patina with areas of iridescence and archaeological weathering, the bowl retains much of its visual impact despite several breaks and ancient repairs. The richly mottled iridescence—ranging from silvery tones to flashes of blue and green—attests to its long burial and enhances its rarity and historical interest.

Marvered glass vessels of this type are uncommon survivals from the Mamluk period and illustrate both the technical skill and aesthetic sophistication of Syrian and Egyptian workshops during the 13th–14th centuries. A rare and evocative museum-quality fragment of medieval Islamic glass.

7cm Diameter