Glassware of Medieval Shamkir Town of Early Islamic Period

Abstract

The author studies the collection of glassware of the 8th–10thcenturies, found in the medieval town of Shamkir, which is located in the western region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On a functional basis, this collection is represented by tableware, perfumery and drugstore dishes. Drinking vessels prevail among tableware. Perfumery and pharmaceutical utensils are represented mainly by samples of bottles. In the manufacture of glassware, various manufacturing techniques were used, in particular, blowing into a mold and free blasting. The techniques of stretching, welding, polishing, grinding were also used. Glassware of Shamkir belongs to the chemical class Na–Ca–Si with a predominance of the type Na (K)–Ca(Mg)–Al–Si. Most of the glass vessels were decorated with relief geometric ornaments in the form of ovals, circles, and radiating figures, "vortical rosette", "honeycomb" ornaments. The rich raw material resources, professional traditions and innovations which existed here created favorable conditions for the development of glassware production. In the everyday life glassware for various purposes was widely used. Material evidences testify to a great shift in the glass production of Shamkir in the 8th–10th centuries and the production of glassware had a prominent role in the city's economy.