Ewer

Ewer. Hole in center of body on one side, repaired.

Historical period(s)
Abbasid period, 9th-10th century
Medium
Brass
Dimensions
H x W: 16.5 x 43.7 cm (6 1/2 x 17 3/16 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1945.13
On View Location
Sackler Gallery 21: Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Ewer

Keywords
Abbasid period (750 - 1258), Iran
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Ewer. Hole in center of body on one side, repaired.

Label

Vibrant metalworking industries in gold, silver, iron, and copper thrived in Basra. Craftsmen there specialized in manufacturing locks, mirrors, and other utensils. This pear-shaped vessel is similar to a bronze ewer that was made in Basra and is now in the Tiblisi Museum in Georgia, near Russia.

The inscription around the neck of the Tiblisi ewer gives the craftsman's name and Basra as its place of manufacture.

Published References
  • Dr. Esin Atil, W. Thomas Chase, Paul Jett. Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, 1985. cat. 3, p. 62.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use