AN EARLY SELJUQ SILVER BOTTLE FROM SIBERIA

Abstract

One of Michael Rogers's inspiring ideas is his conception that the eleventh century AD was a turning point in the history of Islamic art.1 However, the dated art objects of this period are very rare in comparison with those of the following century. Therefore in the sale catalogues one can see many bronze vessels of various types more or less similar to dated specimens but carelessly attributed to the twelfth century. In my book Silberschdtze des Orients,2 I tried to demonstrate that there are several silver vessels of the eleventh and the early twelfth centuries, and that their epigraphic, floral, animal, and geometric decoration can be considered a missing link in the history of the decorative arts in Iran, Tokharistan, and Khorazm. Recently one more silver bottle of this period has been acquired by the State Hermitage Museum (figs. 1-4). Its previous owners were a Khanty family living in the Yamal-Nenetz National District in Northwest Sibe-