On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Jug in the Form of a Crouching Man
Not on view
This curious jug-figurine may have been intended to be humorous in nature. Literary jokes about food and puns on the names of foodstuffs were a known element of culinary gatherings among the educated. Sources also mention the existence of ceramic caricatures. Those made by a “jug maker” in 1197 depicted Sultan Abu al-Hayja al-Samin (“The Fat”) as a chubby rider and had instant success. The sultan was reportedly not offended and graciously appreciated his caricature.
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