Rare Glass Bucket Sells Above Estimate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Apr 1st 2009 at 10:02PM

More proof that the art and antiquities market is still strong when it comes to the really rare pieces was delivered by the Sotheby's "Arts of the Islamic World" today in London. A medieval Islamic glass piece known as the "Rothschild Bucket" brought in 1.6 million pounds ($2.3 million). The winning bid was more than double the top estimate but far more than it brought in at Christie's in 2001. As Bloomberg reports, back then the enameled piece brought in 75,250 pounds with fees during a sale of the collection of the late Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild and was believed to be a modern fake. Since then it has been reappraised as genuine and is thought to have been made in either Syria or Egypt during the Mamluk dynasty which ruled from 1250 to 1517.

Tags: islamic art, IslamicArt, mamluk, sothebys

Filed under: Auctions, Art

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Thanh T. Apr 2nd 2009 8:49AM

Wow, rare art piece!

An important condition for glass making in medieval times was a sufficient amount of water, wood and siliceous sand.

Three distinct types of designs-motifs were found on medieval Islamic decorative repertory-art; geometric, floral, and calligraphic styles.

Very interesting period of time in the areas of the ancient trade routes and medieval commodities.

I’m curious if the “The Rothschild Bucket” or ancient glass vessels with similar attributes were also used as a container to hold “alkuhl” (forbidden alcohol) or important medicines during that time?

Hmmm, interesting.