Long-necked Bottle

Unknown Artist

Especially after the Mongol‑Mamluk peace of 1323, the Chinese motifs popular in contemporary Ilkhanid art began to appear in the art and architecture of the Mamluks. Here, a Chinese cloud‑collar design provides the framework of four medallions, each decorated with a bird of prey attacking a goose, surrounded by a floral ground of Chinese‑inspired lotus and peony blossoms. Bottles of this shape served as wine decanters, and are depicted as such in banqueting scenes in a variety of media.

Credit: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1936

First half 14th century

Glass, colorless with green tinge; blown, blown applied foot, applied decoration, enameled and gilded

49.8cm

36.33

Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019