Curator & Collector

Image of 1000 year-old Islamic Crystal Decanter taken from the CBC

Christie’s in London is auctioning what is considered to be a rare crystal decanter dating back to the Fatimid rulers of Cairo, Egypt. The decanter, which was carved from a single piece of crystal, was initially described as a 19th century artefact. It was sold under that description, but when the provenance of the artefact was discovered, the sale was annulled.

The CBC story provides a highly interesting bit of background:

When the dynasty was overthrown, its members were forced to sell their treasures, including the rare, exquisite ewers. Among the six others known in existence, one is held by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum while another is in the collection of the Louvre in Paris.

For me, the most interesting question posed by the decanter is: did it ever serve wine? Islamic custom prohibits wine, but wine imagery is used extensively and authentically by the Sufi poet Rumi. It’s a question I hope to find answered at some point.