A KHORASAN SILVER AND COPPER INLAID BRONZE EWER, PERSIA, 12TH CENTURY

of slightly flaring lobed form on a splayed foot, wide shoulder and long neck with spout, simple handle, engraved and inlaid in silver and copper with alternating inscription-filled cartouches interspersed by roundels overlaid with vegetal motifs, and cartouches filled with undulating vines interspersed by almond medallions overlaid with vegetal motifs, the shoulder with a band of inscription on a ground of scrolling vines, the foot with a band of cable design, the neck with repoussé lion to each side, surrounded by a band of cable design, the spout with repoussé lion and engraved vegetal and cable decoration.

38.5 cm. high

Inscriptions: to the shoulder al-'izz wa al-iqbal wa al-dawlah wa al-sa'adah wa al-salamah wa al-shifa'ah wa..., 'Glory and prosperity and wealth and happiness and well-being and (prophet's) intercession'; to the body, possibly a repeat of words [a]l-ta'yid, '(God's) support' and [a]l-baqiyyah, 'permanence'.

A ewer of similar form is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and is dated AH577/ AD 1181-82.