AN ISLAMIC BRONZE EWER, CENTRAL ASIA, 8TH CENTURY

A spouted ewer with slightly flared base, pear-shaped belly and tapering spout. The ribbed handle is attached to the main body and rises to the back of the spout. A ball shaped pomegranate counter weight sits at the top. With a very simple but elegant in design, it is likely this vessel was used a wine pourer. 36 cm. heightCATALOGUE NOTE. This type of ewer, whose shape is derived from known Sasanian silverware, has been dated from the start of the 8th century, thanks to a record of a similar ewer in the Tiflis Museum in Georgia. There is a similar shaped ewer in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and another, exhibited in Riyadh and London, in the collection belonging to the Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan.