10th-Century Islamic Bronze Oil Flask

Description

The bulbous body tapers to form a narrow neck and flared rim, with ridged shoulder and decorative knobs around the rim.

Bottles of this form often contained bath oils. The knobs protruding from its rim (prunts) provided a grip should the bottle become slippery.

Condition:  Intact and in very condition overall with good green brown patination. 

Dimensions:  Height:   4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm)   

Provenance:  The Nourollah Elghanayan Collection of Ancient Art, assembled 1950-1970’s.  Nourollah Elghanayan (1915 – 2009), NYC, Iranian-born businessman started buying land in Manhattan in the 1950s and 1960s focusing on Manhattan property on Second and Third avenues.  His sons turned the holdings into a booming real-estate business. Now, the family is worth $1.9 billion and has more than 20 million square feet of residential and commercial holdings to its name, split among two firms.