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Ewer

Title	Ewer
Author	Unknown
Publication Date:	1530
Publication Place	Istanbul (made) -
Subject	Dragons
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Height: 27cm, Width: 15cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	M.21-1987
Record ID	M.21-1987
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1530
Notes	This ewer is a fascinating example of Turkish silverware influenced by European design. Most of the elaborate decoration is Islamic in character. But the overall shape and fabulous beasts on the handle and spout recall European ewers of an earlier period. The European models may have been acquired as loot and their shapes reproduced as a symbol of Ottoman power. In the medieval period, there was a ready market in Christian-ruled Europe for luxury goods from the Islamic Middle East. These imports enjoyed such prestige that luxury goods made in Europe were often decorated in Islamic styles. Occasionally, as with this ewer, the influence went in the other direction and artists in the Middle East adapted European designs.
Tarihsel bağlam	The shape of this ewer and the group of jugs to which it is related is based on late 15th century silver and/or gold inlaid Timurid brasses, several of which are in Istanbul museums. Most of these pieces must have arrived in the court after the conquest of Tabriz, either brought by Bedi uz-Zaman, the last sultan of Herat, or taken as booty from the Safavids. The same shape was previously used on a jade vessel made for Ulugh Bey in the second quarter of the 15th century as well as on early 16th century Safavid objects, including several inlaid brasses and a unique gold-inlaid black stone piece made for Ismail and brought from Tabriz by Selim I. Although the shape of Ottoman jugs, and this ewer, point to western Asian prototypes, the techniques of production and decoration reflect another source, that of eastern Europe. These features must have been transmitted by artists recorded in the payroll registers as having originated from Bosnia and other parts of the Balkans, who applied their native techniques to produce Islamic shapes and decorated these objects with the style formulated in the Ottoman court.
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Silver, gilt, hammered and chased with enamelled plaques Silver Enamel Hammering Enamelling Chasing Gilding
Fiziksel açıklama	Silver gilt ewer with rounded lid, handle, bulbous body set with enamel plaques on flared foot, spout with dragon head, chased all over with floral designs.
Üslup	Ottoman Islamic

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Ewer

Author Unknown

Publication Date 1530

Publication Place Istanbul (made) -

Subject Dragons

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Height: 27cm, Width: 15cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID M.21-1987

Record ID M.21-1987

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1530

Notes This ewer is a fascinating example of Turkish silverware influenced by European design. Most of the elaborate decoration is Islamic in character. But the overall shape and fabulous beasts on the handle and spout recall European ewers of an earlier period. The European models may have been acquired as loot and their shapes reproduced as a symbol of Ottoman power. In the medieval period, there was a ready market in Christian-ruled Europe for luxury goods from the Islamic Middle East. These imports enjoyed such prestige that luxury goods made in Europe were often decorated in Islamic styles. Occasionally, as with this ewer, the influence went in the other direction and artists in the Middle East adapted European designs.

Tarihsel bağlam The shape of this ewer and the group of jugs to which it is related is based on late 15th century silver and/or gold inlaid Timurid brasses, several of which are in Istanbul museums. Most of these pieces must have arrived in the court after the conquest of Tabriz, either brought by Bedi uz-Zaman, the last sultan of Herat, or taken as booty from the Safavids. The same shape was previously used on a jade vessel made for Ulugh Bey in the second quarter of the 15th century as well as on early 16th century Safavid objects, including several inlaid brasses and a unique gold-inlaid black stone piece made for Ismail and brought from Tabriz by Selim I. Although the shape of Ottoman jugs, and this ewer, point to western Asian prototypes, the techniques of production and decoration reflect another source, that of eastern Europe. These features must have been transmitted by artists recorded in the payroll registers as having originated from Bosnia and other parts of the Balkans, who applied their native techniques to produce Islamic shapes and decorated these objects with the style formulated in the Ottoman court.

Malzemeler ve teknikler Silver, gilt, hammered and chased with enamelled plaques Silver Enamel Hammering Enamelling Chasing Gilding

Fiziksel açıklama Silver gilt ewer with rounded lid, handle, bulbous body set with enamel plaques on flared foot, spout with dragon head, chased all over with floral designs.

Üslup Ottoman Islamic