Vase with Inscriptions
VesselsArab14th century

Vase with Inscriptions

mid 14th century

Description

Vase with tall, round, slightly flared neck; the pear-shaped body stands on a tall footring. The neck is engraved with three bands: at the top, a band of kufic script set against a foliated scroll; a second band consisting of a twined rope motif; and on the ring of the neck, a third band of lozenges alternating with roundels. The body bears a broad band of fine thuluth calligraphy punctuated by three large decorative roundels filled with an arabesque motif. Above and below the calligraphy band are arabesque motifs. On the foot ring is an engraved band consisting of an angular, braided rope motif. Remnants of silver inlay can be found on the neck ring and body of the vase. The inscription on this vase reveals that it was made for an amir kabir, or Great Emir, of Sultan Hasan (ruled 1347-51 and 1354-61). Up until 1352 the title of amir kabir was given to all senior Mamluk amirs, or freed slaves who were part of the ruling military elite. After that time, the term was reserved for the commander in chief of the army. Since the reigns of Sultan Hasan span this transition, this piece may have been made for the commander in chief but also could have been made for any senior amir. Notes from the Glory and Prosperity exhibition, Feb - June 2002.

Classification
Vessels
Medium
Brass, inlaid with silver
Culture
Arab
Period
Mamluk period
Century
14th century
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Department
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

H: 17.5 x small. diam: 5.6 x greatest diam: 12 cm (6 7/8 x 2 3/16 x 4 3/4 in.)

Provenance

Momtaz Islamic Art, London, England, 5.

Related Artworks

View More
Globular Bottle with Long, Cylindrical Neck and Apple-Green Glaze
Vessels
Globular Bottle with Long, Cylindrical Neck and Apple-Green Glaze
Unknown Artist, 18th-19th century

Enameled porcelain: porcelain with emerald-green enamel over crackled glaze

18th-19th centuryChinese
Cup
Vessels
Cup
Unknown Artist

Terracotta

Greek
Tea cup
Vessels
Tea cup
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, 1814-1824

Hard-paste porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels

19th centuryGerman
Flat-Shouldered "Meiping" Bottle with Carinated Mouth and Scrolling Floral Decor
Vessels
Flat-Shouldered "Meiping" Bottle with Carinated Mouth and Scrolling Floral Decor
Unknown Artist, 12th-early 13th century

Cizhou-type cut-glaze ware: light gray stoneware with dark brown glaze, the decoration cut into the glaze before firing. From the Ciyaobao kilns, Lingwu county, Ningxia Huizu Autonomous Region.

12th-13th centuryChinese
Bowl
Vessels
Bowl
Unknown Artist
Object Stand for Hand Cup in the Form of a Chimera with a Book on its Back, the Chimera Emerging from Waves
Vessels
Object Stand for Hand Cup in the Form of a Chimera with a Book on its Back, the Chimera Emerging from Waves
Unknown Artist

Wood

Chinese
Jar with anthropomorphic feet
Vessels
Jar with anthropomorphic feet
Unknown Artist, c. 2300-1500 BCE

Earthenware with cord-impressed decoration

3rd-2nd millennium BCEChinese
Conical Bowl with Russet Glaze and with Traces of Floral Decor
Vessels
Conical Bowl with Russet Glaze and with Traces of Floral Decor
Unknown Artist, probably 11th century

Red Ding ware: porcelaneous white stoneware with russet-surfaced dark brown glaze and with traces of decoration in overglaze gold leaf

11th centuryChinese
Compressed, Faceted Jar with Abstract Decor
Vessels
Compressed, Faceted Jar with Abstract Decor
Unknown Artist, 19th century

Light gray stoneware with mottled brown glaze over combed decoration. Made in Namwŏn-gun, North Chŏlla province.

19th centuryKorean
REPRODUCTION OF A CLAY CUP FOUND AT MOCHLOS. (MOCH LOS, PT. VIII,XI,13)
Vessels
REPRODUCTION OF A CLAY CUP FOUND AT MOCHLOS. (MOCH LOS, PT. VIII,XI,13)
Unknown Artist
'Maebyŏng' Bottle with Willow Decor
Vessels
'Maebyŏng' Bottle with Willow Decor
Unknown Artist, Koryŏ or Chosŏn dynasty, late 14th-early 15th century

Inlaid celadon ware: light gray stoneware with dark (oxidized) celadon glaze over decoration inlaid in black and white slips. Reportedly recovered from a tomb in Yangp'yŏng, Kyŏnggi province, in 1962.

14th centuryKorean
One-Handled Jug with Wide Mouth
Vessels
One-Handled Jug with Wide Mouth
Unknown Artist

Terracotta

Cypriot
Vase with Inscriptions | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI