Traces of silver in the incisions of the calligraphic bands make this ewer one of the earliest examples of the twelfth-century development of metalwork inlay that took place in eastern Iran and Afghanistan. The inscriptions convey good wishes in Arabic for the owner.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Open Access
As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.
API
Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
Artwork Details
Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item
Title:Ewer with Calligraphic Band
Date:12th century
Geography:Attributed to Iran
Medium:Bronze; cast relief, engraved, inlaid with silver
Dimensions:Gr. H. 11 5/8 in. (29.52 cm) Diam. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm)
Classification:Metal
Credit Line:Purchase, Frederick P. Huntley Bequest, 1959
Object Number:59.53
Inscription: Large inscription in kufic script on body:
بالیمن و البرکة و النامیة و السرور و الکاملة لصاحبة
Around foot in kufic script:
بالیمن و البرکة و النامیة و السرور و الکاملة و الشجاعة
On the shoulder in kuficscript:
برکة لصاحبه [بر]کة لصاحبه عبدالله المصفر
Around the neck in kufic script:
بالیمن و البرکة و التامة و السرور
On the handle in kufic script:
بالیمن
(A.Ghouchani, 2011)
The inscriptions were also read by Yassir al-Tabba as:
Main inscription لصاحبه [sic] بالیمن و البرکة و الباقیة و السرور الکامله
Around neck بالیمن و البرکة الباقیة و السرور الکا...
Upper body برکة لصاحبه العز و برکة لصاحبه
Around foot و الدولة و و السـ... [sic] بالیمن و البرکة و الباقیة و السرور الکامله
Back of handle بالیمن
[ E. Safani, New York, until 1959; sold to MMA]
Asia Society. "Iranian Ceramics," May 3, 1963–September 12, 1963, no. 64.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Calligraphy West of China," March 15–May 7, 1972, no catalogue.
New York. The Hagop Kevorkian Special Exhibitions Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Celestial Pen: Islamic Calligraphy," September 28, 1982–February 7, 1983, no catalogue.
New York. The Hagop Kevorkian Special Exhibitions Gallery, New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Nature of Islamic Ornament Part I: Calligraphy," February 26–June 28, 1998, no catalogue.
Paris. Musée du Louvre. "Louvre Long Term Loan," April 28, 2004–April 27, 2006, no catalogue.
"The Recent Accessions Room." Museum of Metropolitan Art Bulltin vol. 18 (April 1960). p. 269, ill. fig. 1 (b/w).
Wilkinson, Charles K. Iranian Ceramics. New York: Asia House Gallery, 1963. no. 64, pp. 7, 132, ill. pl. 64 (b/w).
Abu-l Faraj al-'Ush, M. "A Bronze Ewer with a High Spout in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Analogous Pieces." Islamic Art in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1972). pp. 187–90, ill. figs. 1–5f (b/w).
Ettinghausen, Richard, Oleg Grabar, and Marilyn Jenkins-Madina. Islamic Art and Architecture 650–1250. 2nd ed. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2001. p. 166, ill. fig. 253 (b/w).
The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.
The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
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.
The Met's collection of Islamic art is one of the most comprehensive in the world and ranges in date from the seventh to the twenty-first century. Its more than 15,000 objects reflect the great diversity and range of the cultural traditions from Spain to Indonesia.