Top Section of a Water Jug
Arts of the Islamic World
On View: Arts of the Islamic World, 2nd floor
This remarkable object is the top half of a habb, or water jug. The unglazed ceramic body allowed for the cooling of water stored inside; for this reason, habbs have been used in Mesopotamia since pre-Islamic times. Surviving early examples vary in their degree of decoration. This habb is elaborately embellished, with a depiction of a ruler seated on a carpet and flanked by armed attendants and harpies (mythical birds possessing the head of a woman) with tails that terminate in dragon heads. A background of scrolling vines inhabited by birds is pierced into the vessel’s body. Overall, such figural decoration is typical of the courtly imagery popular in the eastern Islamic world during the medieval period, as is evident from both architectural decoration and manuscript painting of the time.
MEDIUM
Ceramic; earthenware, pierced decoration
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
- Possible place made: Iraq
- Possible place made: Syria
DATES
late 12th–early 13th century
DYNASTY
Possibly Seljuq
PERIOD
Seljuq Period
DIMENSIONS
12 x 14 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (30.5 x 36.2 x 36.2 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
73.30.6
CREDIT LINE
Gift of The Roebling Society
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1973, provenance not yet documented; by 1973, acquired by Charles Dikran Kelekian of New York; 1973, purchased from Charles Dikran Kelekian by the Brooklyn Museum.
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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Top of a large water cistern or cooler of porous clay. It has an elaborate molded and incised ornament of human and animal figures in vegetative motifs in ogival panels, which constitute a decorative screen for an air space 1 1/4" thick. Center motif is of a seated figure on a throne with a cup, a symbol of office in his left hand, perhaps in the manner of a Seljuk sultan. He is dressed in a long embroidered robe, riding boots and a conical fur brimmed hat from which 2 pigtails dangle. Surrounding the seated figure is an open-work intertwined arabesque ornament. Surmounting this are two confronting birds with heads turned towards their tails. Flanking the seated figure to right and left are standing guards dressed in early 13th century Seljuk fashion, one of whom carries a sword. The standing figure on the right is faceless and probably was also carrying a sword, but it is absent. Next to the guards are crowned, winged sphinxes with tails terminating in a dragon head. The handle emerges from a straight piece is jagged with several missing sections.
CAPTION
Top Section of a Water Jug, late 12th–early 13th century. Ceramic; earthenware, pierced decoration, 12 x 14 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (30.5 x 36.2 x 36.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 73.30.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 73.30.6_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 73.30.6_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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