ticketsMember | Make a donation

Flask with Zodiac Medallions

first half 14th century, with additions first half 20th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453
The blue flask’s two sides present the object’s stratified history. A close investigation recently revealed that the painted and gilded decoration, once on both sides, is a modern enhancement applied to a plain surface— probably while the flask was in fragments before being reassembled. A sticker still glued to the vessel’s interior wall suggests that the restoration was executed in Iran.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Flask with Zodiac Medallions
  • Date: first half 14th century, with additions first half 20th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran, Kashan
  • Medium: Stonepaste; molded, blue-glazed, overpainted, and gilded
  • Dimensions: H. 12 in. (30.5 cm)
    W. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1957
  • Object Number: 57.164
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes, Stonepaste; openwork, underglaze-painted, glazed in transparent turquoise
Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes
dated 612 AH/1215–16 CE
Bowl with Bahram Gur and Azada, Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded
Bowl with Bahram Gur and Azada
late 12th–early 13th century
Tile from an Inscriptional Frieze, Stonepaste; modeled, overglaze painted, and gilded (lajvardina)
Tile from an Inscriptional Frieze
early 14th century
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience, Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience
late 12th–early 13th century
Dish depicting a Wedding Procession, Stonepaste; molded, luster-painted on opaque white glaze
Dish depicting a Wedding Procession
first quarter 13th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.