Publication Date
6th / 12th century
Publication Place
-
The National Museum in Damascus
Subject
Pottery decorated with glued relief decorations.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 0.99م ؛ القطر: 0.455م
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
ع 573
Record ID
object;ISL;sy;Mus01;20;ar
Library Location
The National Museum in Damascus
Date
6th / 12th century
Notes
This piece of pottery is richly decorated, and indicates a clear development in pottery making. It is a large water jug known as a “khab”. The jar has an oval stem, a cylindrical neck, and a prominent ring lip. It has no base. Most of the torso is occupied by rows of repeating shapes resembling the head of a horned animal. As for the neck, it is occupied with human and imaginary shapes added and pasted onto a surface engraved with floral decorations. The torso and neck are separated by an inscription in Thuluth script, the text of which can be read as follows: “Glory, Iqbal, Safety, Happiness, Dignity, Bliss, and Exaltation.” One of the scenes of the neck decoration can be described as follows: In the middle of the scene there is a person sitting in a facing position, who appears to be in an oriental position of worship (i.e. his arms are bent at the elbow and his palms are open). Surrounding him above his head is an arch with two dragons facing each other, with gaping mouths and prominent fangs. Under the claws of the two dragons there is a prominent knot, and on either side of it are seven faces with eyes, nostrils, and hollow, round ears. These imaginative forms continue below as well, as the figure sits on the heads of two facing birds, each of which has the head of a girl with styled hair and elegantly decorated wings. Under both of these birds are the faces of lions or lions. All of these figures are placed on a mesh of intricate and perforated floral decoration.
Sample Text
Mona al-Moadin “Large Jar” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;sy;Mus01;20;ar
