History of Early Islamic Art in Glass(until 12th century AD)

The Islamic culture has a long history of art on glass. After the fall of Rome, Constantinople became the political center of the area. At the time, mosaic decorations and window art on glasswere especially prominent. However, there were well-established rivals in the area, such as Syria, so that Constantinople did not become a large art in glasscenter.  Sometimes, early Islamic art on glass was prototyped after Syrian objects.

Only in the Abbasid dynasty, which lasted from 750 to 1258, did Islamic hand blown glass flourish. The newly formed nation demanded more glass, and a distinctive style appeared in Mesopotamia. Baghdad and Basra became flourishingart in glasscenters. Damascus, Aleppo, and Raqqua were also important glassmaking locations.

Various techniques were used to make charming artworks. Cut decoration was a famous technique of Mesopotamian glass makers. Gilding, enameling, and luster-painting were also commonly used. Many mosque lamps and bowls were produced using such techniques.

For luster painting, copper and silver pigments were applied and then the hand blown glass was fired one more time to create a shining surface that is fused with the vessel.

Around this period, another significant change occurred. As the capital was moved from Damascus to Baghdad, a clearer form of ‘Islamic’ tradition separated from Classical traditions started to develop. This is when distinctly Islamic styles became apparent.

In this early stage of creating glass works, finding out how to manipulate the glass itself was also one of the main goals of glass makers. New types of molds, made of bronze and ceramic, and new methods to createart in glasswere developed, and often such methods are still used in art glass studios today.

Despite the high quality art on glass that the Islamic cultures perfected, unfortunately it was often neglected by art historians in the same way that art on glassin other cultures had been. Rather than seeing art in glassas a form of art, it was sometimes condescended to as ‘craft’ (although of course there is also the question of why craft should be of less value) that could have no aesthetic value. However, the technique of creating hand blown glass, whether it is art or craft, can be appreciated as it is apart from any technical classification.