ewer
Object NameEwer with Animals
Made FromGlass
Date800-999
Place Madeprobably Iraq; probably Iran
TechniqueBlown in mold with two vertical sections, handle applied
SizeOverall H: 14.6 cm, Diam (max): 7.9 cm
Accession Number61.1.15
Curatorial Area(s)
On ViewAncient Gallery
Physical DescriptionEwer with Animals. Transparent pale purple (body) and transparent very pale green (handle). Blown in mold with two vertical sections; handle applied.Ewer with pear-shaped body. Rim plain, with rounded edge and pinched pouring lip; neck short and tapering; wall curves out, down, and in; base has appearance of shallow disk with vertical edge and concave underside; pontil mark faint, probably circular; handle with circular cross section dropped onto wall at about midpoint, drawn up and slightly out, then bent in and reattached to top of neck; handle has semicircular finger-rest at point of attachment and roughly rectangular thumb-rest with rounded top at highest point.
Decorated in relief with two registers, with three continuous rows of small circular bosses between pair of horizontal ribs located above upper register, between registers, and below lower register. Upper register (H. 3.8 cm) contains two pairs of animals, one pair face-to-face with heads below lip, and second pair face-to-face on either side of handle. Weathering makes details of animals difficult to see. Those on either side of handle appear to be shown in profile, each with small head, long neck, one front leg and one hind leg thrust forward, wing extended upward, and forked tail; animals may have tendrils in mouths and tails ending in vegetal motifs. Those on either side of pouring lip may be similar, but they are not identical. Lower register contains continuous vegetal scroll. Prominent mold seam extends downward from upper wall and across underside of base, separating pairs of animals.
Provenance
Source
Ray Winfield Smith
(American, 1897-1982) - 1961-02-28
