late 15th- first quarter 16th century
Town probably Herat,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Object qualities
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Objecttableware: Jug
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumBrass; cast and turned, engraved, and inlaid with silver, gold, and black organic compound
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SizeH. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm) Max. Diam. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm) Diam. of Rim: 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm) Diam. of base: 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
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Geography detailsAttributed to
Town probably Herat,
Afghanistan -
Country today
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Datelate 15th- first quarter 16th century
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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This elegantly-formed jug with dragon-headed handle is covered with intricate silver and gold inlay, including a minute inscription around the base of its neck. It is inscribed with an invocation to ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. As the Shi’i Muslim community holds a special reverence for ‘Ali, scholars have suggested that this jug may have been created in the early 16th century, for a follower of the Shi’i Safavid dynasty.