Pitcher

The period from 800 to 1000 marked the beginning of a great tradition of Islamic metalwork in which Iran played an important role. This ewer was cast as a single piece using sophisticated metalworking techniques. It is a prototype that became increasingly elaborate in the following centuries. The shape of the vessel, the beading on its handle, and the pomegranate form that served as a thumb rest were repeated in later periods.

The ewer’s lack of an inscription and its simple form suggest that it is an early example. This type of ewer was very popular, and similar ones were traded to as far away as Java in Indonesia, where one was excavated.