A Nishapur relief-cut glass bottle, Persia, 9th century

the globular body with a tall conical neck with a wide rounded lip, relief-cut with a curvilinear stem with half-palmette leaves, the neck with stylised feline forms

In fair condition, once broken and restored, some iridescence and encrustation remaining on surface as consistent with age, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This elegant glass bottle is decorated with mould-blown and cutting techniques to produce a richly decorated object. Sherds with related cut decoration of palmettes were excavated at Nishapur (Kröger 1995, pp.144-146). A bottle of closely related form and elaborate relief-cut decoration is in the David Collection, Copenhagen (von Folsach 2001, p.207, no.308; and, Blair and Bloom 2006, p.73, no.13). Several blown bottles of this form testify to its popularity in glass of this period (Goldstein 2005, pp.110-111, no.130, and 124-127, nos.152-155).