October 14 2016 – Once again updated the Double-Gourd Transport Bottles page.
July 19 2015 – I guess I should update the recent updates page more often… Well, notably, the Double-Gourd Transport Bottles page more accurately reflects my understanding of these wonderful bottles.
July 7 2014 – Updating the pages, validating information, planning to upload the entire collection to the site prior to purchasing any more glass (let’s see how well that works!). So far, have updated or added new information for: PC-023, PC-042, PC-161, PC-162, PC-163, PC-164, PC-165, PC-166. Have also added the category of Vases, but with only one entry. With over 200 pieces of glass in the collection and my understanding being substantially advanced over what is reflected on the site, it’s time to make a push to update what’s published.
May 12, 2014 – Added two published magazine articles – British Bottle Review January 2014 issue and Der Glasfreund February 2014 issue to the About page. Removed Octagonal Smalls section from the site (I no longer believe these to be Persian in origin). Added several new images to Group Photos.
May 10, 2014 – Added Post – “The Late Late LATE Persian Show”
May 6, 2014 – renumbered the Saddle Flask types and names. Type III will be for the v-tooled lips; Type IV for the funnel lips. Added pages for Type III Saddles: PC-003, PC-007, PC-035, PC-043, PC-113, PC-114, PC-140.
April 21, 2014 – Broke out History section by century. Found the definition of a “muid” – a french measure for wine – and added it into the history section. I am having Engelbert Kaempfer’s 1712 treatise on the wine industry in Shiraz translated from the original latin and will post it when it has been completed and reviewed.
March 2, 2014 – Added Karabas PC-023 (reused the number from a Saddle Flask that was subsequently determined to be modern), PC-136. Added fresh photos for Karaba PC-066. Added Karaba Variant PC-139. Relinked pages for Karaba Variants PC-071, PC-072, PC-073, that apparently had gotten relinked as I had moved things around. Added Double Gourd Transport Bottle PC-042 (reused the number from a Saddle Flask that was subsequently determined to be modern). Added detail pages for all five Ewers currently in the collection: PC-085, PC-086, PC-104, PC-130, PC-131.
December 15, 2013 – Changed things around a bit. Moved PC-027, PC-028, PC-030, PC-031 to the Saddle Flasks page – they belong there, even if they are serving bottles. Changed the name of the Serving Bottles page to Single Serving Round-bodied Bottles, moved a couple of the single-serving Karabas to that page (PC-068, PC-107, PC-108), and added three new bottles (PC-122, PC-132, PC-133). I’m more inclined to believe that the poorer glass with inclusions comes from Isfahan and that the purer glass is more likely to have come from Shiraz. But I’m treading on very thin ice when I say this! Also added the Ewers page.
November 21st, 2013 – Updated the Double Gourd Transport Bottles page – updated photo of bottle 9.
October 18th, 2013 – Updated the Fakes page with 15 photos and a discussion of amber late Persian glass – after getting two bad lots of bottles in and one of the sellers refusing to take his glass back…lots of new insights. I hope they are of value to someone else. Very expensive lesson for me.
September 20th, 2013 – Added three Small Flasks that live outside my collection – proof that the Powerhouse Museum in Australia (this bottle) and Christies in London, England (this bottle and this one) sees these as being 18th century Persian as well. These external references help in fighting against the incessant claims that these are 20th century pieces.
September 7th, 2013 – Added Miscellaneous Photos section to highlight pretty pictures that will get lost through time otherwise. Three ewers purchased but not yet on the site; 6-8 hookah bases as well…I’ve seen so many hookah bases and am uncertain how old many of them are – many claimed as late 19th century, but I could see them most/all being mid-20th century thus far. Gorgeous chunks of glass, but not something I understand yet. Only one has clear mold seams up and over the lip. The rest were spun in the molds. Gorgeous yellow small added to the collection (but not the site, yet – sorry!!) as well.
August 19th, 2013 – Overhauled the Rose Water Sprinklers section, adding three new sprinklers: PC-119, PC-120, PC-121. Transferred the formerly designated “Footed Decanters” into the Rose Water Sprinkler section – based on conversations with an Indian collector {BP} who owns six of these, they are now “Spiral Bound Rose Water Sprinklers”.
August 16th, 2013 – Minor aesthetic changes to the site, putting off some major changes. The glass currently catalogued as Footed Decanters is far more likely to be a style of Rose Water Sprinklers. The site will be rejigged to remove the Decanters section entire – the Saddle-style Decanters will go with the Saddle Flasks page; the Footed Decanters will be relisted as Rose Water Sprinklers. Additionally, there are now 3 ewers – two that I am informed were used as Rose Water pitchers – to be added to the site, and the first of a couple Hookah Pipe Bases to be added into a new section as well.
July 13th, 2013 – added a page on Gujarati Transport Bottles. (November 2013 update: no longer certain where these bottles were produced, I’ve adopted the more general “double-gourd transport bottles” to cover these specimens.)
July 12th, 2013 – substantially updated History page. I always leave this part of the work feeling deflated…so much conjecture, based on so few examples.
July 10th, 2013 – Added page on Octagonal Smalls. Much to learn in this regard, particularly – are they even Persian? Many wiser people than I (Hecklers, Skinner, McKearin) seem to have thought so. Jury is of course still out.
July 2nd, 2013 – Added Rose Water Sprinklers page, as well as the first three Rose Water Sprinklers: PC-010, PC-036 and PC-037.
June 23rd, 2013 – Updated Saddle Flasks, including the six Type II Saddles in the collection: PC-006, PC-019, PC-078, PC-097, PC-117, PC-118. Updated Pickled Fruits, including the three Pickled Fruit jars in the collection: PC-056, PC-057, PC-059. Also learned of the existence of octagonal mold-blown Persians (at least they are reputed to be Persians) and purchased one for the collection. Also have started adding Rose Water Sprinklers (or “tear-catchers” as they are sometimes romantically referred to). Purchased three for the collection; much to learn. Finally, also recognized the existence of handled glass ewers/pitchers manufactured in Persia in this time period. Much to learn in that regard.
May 23rd, 2013 – Updated Serving Pieces, added two “Other” Decanters: PC-048 and PC-058.
May 22nd, 2013 – Updated Small Flasks and added the following Miscellaneous Smalls: PC-011, PC-016, PC-029, PC-089, PC-090. Updated Transport Bottles and added Karaba (Variant) PC-015.
May 13th, 2013 – Added 25 images and descriptions to the Fakes page. Updated Small Flasks and added the following Smalls: PC-012, PC-080, PC-103, PC-115, PC-116.
May 12th, 2013 – Updated Saddle Flasks, added Transitional Saddle PC-113 and Standard Saddle PC-114. Updated Small Flasks and added the following Smalls: PC-009, PC-062, PC-079, PC-081, PC-082, PC-083, PC-084.
May 7th, 2013 – Updated Serving Pieces page and added six Footed Decanters: PC-032, PC-098, PC-099, PC-100, PC-101 and PC-102.
May 6th, 2013 – Updated About, updated Fakes, added two more Footed Decanters to the Serving Pieces page.
April 27th, 2013 – Updated History.
April 25th, 2013 – Updated PC-063 – painted flowers determined to most likely be Vanilla Orchids.
April 24th, 2013 – Added flat-sided Karabas PC-071, PC-072, PC-073 and updated Transport Bottles page. Added Type I Saddle Flasks PC-020, PC-063, PC-069, PC-070. Added Pickled Fruits Section. Updated Serving Pieces page with three new bottles.
April 22nd, 2013 – Added PC-038 to Long Necked Wines. Added Type I Saddle flasks PC-002 and PC-008. Updated Saddle Flasks and About pages.
April 21st, 2013 – Added section on Globular Wines, along with PC-109, PC-110. Added images of all Long Necked Wines to section, plus PC-026, PC-060, PC-112. Changed photo of Smalls in Photo Gallery. Added Karabas PC-108 and PC-111.
April 19th, 2013 – Added Karabas PC-067, PC-068, PC-077, PC-105, PC-106, PC-107 and updated Transport Bottles main page.
