Swan-neck bottle facts for kids

An 18th or 19th century swan-neck bottle from the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Swan-neck bottles are special glass bottles made in Iran. They are famous for their very long, curved necks, which look a bit like a swan's neck! In the Persian language, these bottles are also called ashkdān.

What Are Swan-Neck Bottles?

These unique bottles are a great example of Iran's long history of making beautiful glass items. This tradition started a long time ago, during the rule of Shah Abbas the Great (from 1587 to 1629). Important cities like Shiraz and Esfahān were key places where these bottles were made.

How They Were Inspired

The idea for these bottles came from Venetian glassware. Venetian glass was made in Venice, Italy, and was very popular in the 1500s. It was brought to the Muslim world, and Iranian glassmakers were inspired by its beauty and style.

What Were They Used For?

Paintings from the time of the Safavid dynasty show us how these bottles were used.

• They often held wine or other drinks.
• They were also used to decorate special wall spaces in homes.

There's a fun old story, or folklore, about them too! People say they were used as sprinklers for rose water, which smells lovely. Another story says they were used to collect the tears of wives whose husbands were far away. This is why they got the Persian name ashkdān, which means "container for tears."

The Mystery of the Neck

Even today, nobody knows for sure why these bottles have such a long and unique neck shape. It's still a bit of a mystery!

Swan-Neck Bottles Today

In the 1800s, many travelers from Europe visited Iran. They loved these swan-neck bottles and took many of them back to Europe. These bottles became very popular there. Even now, swan-neck bottles are still made in Iran, keeping this beautiful tradition alive.