Ewer with Inscription, Horsemen, and Vegetal Decoration
dated A.H. 623/1226 CE
Medium
Brass; inlaid with silver and black compound
Dimensions
H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm) W. 12 1/16 in. (30.6 cm) Diam. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)
Classification
Metal
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.586
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ewer, crafted by the skilled metalworker `Umar al-Hajji Jaldak in 1226 CE (A.H. 623), exemplifies the pinnacle of medieval Islamic metalworking artistry. Fashioned from brass and intricately inlaid with silver a black compound—likely a form of niello or copper for contrast—the vessel stands 14½ inches tall. Its surface bursts with dynamic motifs: galloping horsemen evoking the era's warrior ethos, lush vegetal scrolls symbolizing paradise gardens, and elegant inscriptions that proudly proclaim the artist's name and date. Originating from the Islamic world during the Ayyubid per...