Ewer

second half 13th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455

Anthropomorphic calligraphy, also referred to as human-headed naskh, was unique to metalwork made in Eastern Iran and Mosul, in present-day Iraq, during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. On this vessel the upright shafts of the letters terminate in heads with facial features. In other examples, the shapes of the letters act as the arms and legs of figures. This short-lived style reflects the ingenuity and playfulness of the artist-designer.

Artwork Details

Title: Ewer
Date: second half 13th century
Geography: Attributed to Iran
Medium: Bronze; cast with handle cast separately, chased, engraved, inlaid with silver and gold
Dimensions: H. 8 9/16 in. (21.7 cm)
W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
D. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Wt. 40.9 oz. (1159.6 g)
Classification: Metal
Credit Line: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1963
Object Number: 63.158.3
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Ewer, Brass; raised, repoussé, inlaid with silver and a black compound — Ewer
ca. 1180–1210

Incense Burner of Amir Saif al-Dunya wa’l-Din ibn Muhammad al-Mawardi, Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali, Bronze; cast, engraved, chased, pierced — Incense Burner of Amir Saif al-Dunya wa’l-Din ibn Muhammad al-Mawardi
Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali
dated 577 AH/1181–82 CE

Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript, Ink, gold, and watercolor on paper — Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript
dated 531 AH/1137 CE

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

Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi, Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi
Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi
dated 741 AH/1340–41 CE

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.