Author
Shujaa bin Al-Mawsili.
Author Original
شجاع بن الموصلي
Publication Place
-
British Museum
Subject
Engraved yellow brass and inlaid with silver and red copper.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع 30.4 سم؛ العرض 22 سم؛ العمق 21.5 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1866.12-30.674
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus01;12;ar
Library Location
British Museum
Notes
A jug inlaid with silver and red copper, missing one of its legs and its mouth. The delicate inlay covering the body of the jug is made with great skill. The body shows various scenes of figurative decoration representing court life in a series of medallions. The medallions are surrounded by geometric shapes that alternate with bands of writing and pictorial decoration. Men cover their heads and wear robes with straight sleeves. Their clothing reflects the Turkish origins of the Zengid dynasty. The edges of the sleeves of the robes worn by the princes are decorated with stripes of the same type. The soldiers carry straight swords with round handles. There is a drawing of two women from the elite, one of whom looks in a mirror and a maid of honor appears next to her. The other rides on the back of a camel in a howdah, accompanied by a servant. It shows a female oud player covering the lower part of her face. Other medallions feature hunting scenes in which a man shoots an arrow at prey; Another hunter carries a cheetah on the back of his horse. There are musicians, dancers and others drinking and having fun. There is also a scene from the Persian epic Shahnameh showing Bahram Gur shooting an arrow while Azadeh plays a lyre on the back of his horse. Given the high quality of the decorations and scenes drawn from court life, it is likely that the jug was made for court use. The shepherd may have been Badr ad-Din Lu'lu', who ruled Mosul in 629-59/1232-59, or a member of his court. A number of pieces on which his name appears indicate that he ordered the manufacture of a number of metal pieces. Although the technique of metal inlaying appeared in Iran, new forms were introduced in Mosul inspired by Byzantine forms. Ibn Sa'id, a Spanish Muslim, traveled throughout Syria, Mesopotamia and Iraq in 648/1250. In his book “Geography,” he mentions inlaid copper vessels made in Mosul, which were exported and presented to a number of rulers. Thus Mosul's metallurgy, with its brilliant inlays, gained sufficient prestige to compete with gold and silver.
Sample Text
Emily Shovelton "Ewer" in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;12;ar
