A BRONZE KHORASAN JUG WITH SILVER INLAY, CENTRAL ASIA, 12TH-13TH CENTURY

With a straight neck and a bulbous form neck that rests upon a flaring foot. The neck with a decoration that runs all the way round it. With a backing of a foliate and arabesque design, laid on top is a stylized script, where the verticals of the downward strokes are inlaid with silver creating a secondary band design. The body is not completely ovoid, composed of twelve slightly concave strips, each with a stylized flower design, with the centre of the flowers being a small dot of silver. The foot decorated with a band of incised lotus flowers.14 cm. heightCATALOGUE NOTEThe name ‘Khorasan’ comes from the Middle Persian words khor meaning ‘sun’, and asan, ‘to come’, making it the ‘land where the sun rises’. It was among one of the many regions conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th Century B.C., and this led to its succeeding history being constantly subjected to different rulers and cultures, and this led to a distinctive local artwork.