Vingt-neuf pions de jeu en verre

Twenty-nine millefiore glass gaming pieces, Mesopotamia, 8th/10th century. Pyramid-shaped molded glass in various colors with mosaic decoration. D. at base 1.7 to 2.5 cm / H. 3.1 cm. There are slight variations in color tone and greater differences in shape and size, ranging from conical to simple flattened domes. The dot-in-circle motif is reminiscent of designs supposed to have magical significance, probably an abstract eye to ward off the evil eye, which has an apotropaic function. These pieces probably come from different games, or could also have served as weights. Provenance: Public sale, France, collection of M. de Wilde (1929-2019). Bibliography: Published in R. de Wilde, Poids, Balances et Pions des Civilisations Anciennes, 2017, p. 229-232, reproduced on p. 256-257. Oeuvres comparables / Similar works : Metropolitan Museum of Art, New york, Accession Number: 1972.9.9 et 1972.9.14. Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, Roman Empire, or Pathian Iran c. 1st century or Mesopotamia region, 8th-9th century, cf. D. Freeman Fahid, 2018, cat. n°97 and cat. n°98. Twenty-nine millefiore glass gaming pieces, Mesopotamia, 8th/10th century.