Fustat Glass of the Early Islamic Period

The glass finds are from the nine seasons of archaeological excavations carried out under the direction of Professor GT Scanlon at Fustat in south Cairo between 1964 and 1980. These were recovered under stratified conditions thus supplying dating sequences for glass from about 700 AD to the end of the twelfth century when Fustat ceased to be occupied. Glass of the later period-the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries- is represented by surface finds.



These finds from Fustat are a principal source for the history fo the glass industry in Egypt from the Umayyad period down to the Fatmid caliphate. All the glass techniques known to the Islamic world are represented and show the manifold uses of glass ranging from objects of everyday use to high quality products for the luxury market. Although the Fustat glass comes mainly from local glass houses, the collection includes pieces imported from other centres in the Islamic world.