Ewer with Engraved Fish Scale Pattern, Inscribed in Persian with the name "Khairullah"
Early 18th century
Medium
Brass repoussé
Dimensions
H.: 32 cm (12 5/8 in.)
Classification
ewer (vessel)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
223189
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The Sultans of the Deccan (r. 1347-1636) in South India combined the Persian aesthetic with the Indic to forge a new Indo-Islamic idiom. In this ewer, we see the confrontation of the Indic preference for a sensuous fullness of volume, weight, balance, and a naturalistic silhouette (representing shapes such as gourds, mangoes, fruits, and birds) with the Islamic preference for the abstract, ethereal, and attenuated silhouette from Iran. The Indic aspect of this Indo-Islamic vessel is evident in t...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...