Glass vase of the Treasury of Saint Mark's of Venice

This glass vase became the property of the Treasury of Saint Mark's Basilica after the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It probably originated in Constantinople, and dates from the mid-tenth century. It was brought back by the Venetians.  The dark purple glass is painted and gilded. The vase stands in a gilded silver stand with handles with volutes, decorated with blue stones.

The surface of the object is decorated with seven large medallions side-by-side, representing mythological figures painted in light hues. The various objects shown with the figures, their necklaces and headbands are gilt. Each medallion is surrounded by a border of rosettes in various bright colours with alternating yellows, greens, reds and blues. There are fourteen other smaller medallions in the corner pieces, showing busts in profile. The colours are the same light hues, with golden headbands, necklaces and earrings. The remaining surface is decorated with lavish gilt arabesque motifs.

The flared rim is decorated with small rosettes in the same colours as those of the outside surface. Between each of the groups there are the same gilt arabesque motifs as are found on all surfaces where figures are not represented. The base of the vase and its inside rim are decorated with mock kufiq inscriptions.

The interpretation of the scenes within the large medallions remains uncertain[1]. There are various illustrations that succeed one another without any narrative or thematic continuity; they may only have decorative value. The figures in profile within the smaller medallions cannot be identified.

The object was initially considered to be a classical vase to which later kufiq inscriptions had been added. Today, however, we know that the vase, its stand and the inscription are definitely Byzantine, and, moreover, date from a single period. The classic-style figures and Arabist decorations were very much appreciated in the tenth century. The imitation of kufiq inscriptions is characteristic of the Macedonian Renaissance, as can be seen at the monastery of Hosios Loukas in Greece. Classical mythological figures are widely illustrated on sumptuary objects of the time, particularly ivories like the Veroli casket at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (913–959) may have commissioned this vase: the illustrations on the object take their inspiration from the gems of Antiquity this emperor is known to have avidly collected.

There are objects found in the Byzantine Empire comparable to the vase of Venice in both their figurative representations and their technique of fabrication. Although they were not necessarily produced in the same workshop, it may be hypothesised that the vase of the Venice treasury probably came from Constantinople.