Publication Date
6th/12th century
Publication Place
-
British Museum
Subject
Marble with engraved decoration.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع 40 سم؛ الطول 56.5 سم؛ العرض 39.5 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1988.11-7.1
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus01;7;ar
Library Location
British Museum
Date
6th/12th century
Notes
The urn's rest is carved from a single piece of marble; It has a rectangular opening at the top, and the legs are carved in the shape of the legs of crouching lions. On the sides are relief engravings of lions and an inscription containing good prayers for their owner. Lions were associated with rulers, suggesting that this pedestal was made for a palace rather than a religious building. Egypt was unique in this type of jar supports, which were used to filter the Nile water and make it drinkable. Ibn Ridwan, a physician who worked at the Fatimid court in Cairo in the 11th/17th century, wrote that it is best not to drink this water until it has been filtered several times, and that the filtered water is placed in a jar, and only the water that filters from the pores of the jar is used.
Sample Text
Emily Shovelton “Jar rest” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;7;ar
