VesselsPersian11th-12th century

Animal head pitcher

11th-12th century

Description

This ewer features a squat, high-hipped body, atop a hollow foot ring. The neck tapers to a spout in the shape of an animal head. The head is crowned by horns that curve into circles. A small handle curves from the back of the animal head to a second and simpler spout, that presumably made it easier to fill the ewer and pour from it. Surface decoration is both carved (incised lines on the horns) and molded (segment lines and arabesques on the body). Small scrolling lines within the segments echo the shape of the horns. Except for the foot ring, the ewer is covered in translucent cobalt-blue glaze.

Classification

Vessels

Medium

Fritware with molded decoration under monochrome blue glaze

Culture

Persian

Period

Seljuk-Atabeg period

Century

11th-12th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

H: 25 x Diam: 16.2 cm (9 13/16 x 6 3/8 in.)

Provenance

Ann B. Goodman and Arthur B. Pardee, Cambridge, MA, (by 2003), gift; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2003.

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