Collection record · Nature & imagination
Bird-shaped Vessel
The collection record classifies this work as metalwork. It is dated 1100s. Recorded culture or place: Iran, Seljuq period (1037–1194).
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Bird-shaped Vessel
- Date
- 1100s
- Culture / origin
- Iran, Seljuq period (1037–1194)
- Materials and technique
- bronze, cast, with chased and chiseled decoration; eyes inlaid with blue glass
- Dimensions
- Overall: 17.5 x 9.5 cm (6 7/8 x 3 3/4 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1948.458
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
This bird-shaped vessel may have been used as a medieval water vessel (aquamanile) for pouring water used in handwashing—an important element of secular and sacred rituals. In this piece, water could have been placed in the vessel through a hole in the bird’s chest and then poured out through the hinged beak. Birds in Islamic art often represented messengers and protectors, or symbolized freedom of the spirit and soaring of the soul. Possibly the blue-green eyes were considered good luck charms to protect the owner from the evil eye and to ward off misfortune.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Edward L. Whittemore Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
Open the complete museum record View the open-access policyTHE VISITOR BOOK
What caught your eye?
Opening the visitor book…
