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Elephant-Shaped Kendi

second quarter 17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 462
This object in the shape of a seated elephant with cobalt blue and white designs is clearly modeled on a kendi, a type of Chinese drinking vessel. Unlike the Chinese originals, this Safavid example is made of stonepaste rather than porcelain and the elephant’s features are not as naturalistic.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Elephant-Shaped Kendi
  • Date: second quarter 17th century
  • Geography: Made in Iran, probably Kirman
  • Medium: Stonepaste; painted in shades of blue under transparent glaze
  • Dimensions: H. 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm)
    W. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm)
    Diam. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: The Friends of the Department of Islamic Art Fund, 1968
  • Object Number: 68.180
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Dish with Two Intertwined Dragons, Stonepaste; painted in blue under transparent glaze
Dish with Two Intertwined Dragons
ca. 1640
Bottle with Flying Cranes, Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Bottle with Flying Cranes
1650s
Dish with Floral Designs, Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Dish with Floral Designs
1670s
Garden Gathering, Stonepaste; painted and polychrome glazed (cuerda seca technique)
Garden Gathering
1640–50
Bottle with Running Quadrupeds, Stonepaste; painted in blue under transparent glaze
Bottle with Running Quadrupeds
17th century

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