The Blacas Ewer
From Mosul, northern Iraq, AH 629 / AD 1232
Decorated with courtly scenes
The Blacas ewer is an exceptionally fine example of medieval
inlaid brass. Metalworkers in Mosul inlaid brass vessels with
intricate courtly scenes in silver and copper to create glittering
objects that were very popular with the local élite. They were
often given as diplomatic gifts to neighbouring rulers. The ewer is
signed by Shujac ibn Manca, one of the best
inlayers in the city, and dated Rajab AH 629 (April AD 1232).
The quality of the inlaid decoration is exceptional. It is
covered with scenes of contemporary courtlife. These include a
horseman out hunting with a cheetah seated on the rump of his horse
and a lady choosing jewels from a casket held by her maid while
admiring her reflection in a mirror. One of the more sophisticated
medallions contains a depiction of Bahram Gur out hunting with
Azade his favourite musician, in a scene from Firdausi's Persian
epic the Shahnama ('Book of Kings'). Azade plays the harp
on the back of the camel while Bahram Gur tries to impress her by
shooting the foot of a deer to its ear with a single arrow (Azade
was not sufficiently impressed and was then thrown to the ground
and trampled to death). Another medallion shows a wealthy woman in
a camel-litter attended by two servants. Contemporary historians
complained of traffic jams in the narrow streets of Mosul, caused
by the large and elaborate camel-litters of the élite, and the
jangling noise of the golden ornaments attached to them for
decoration.
The ewer is named after the Duc de Blacas whose collection was
acquired by The British Museum in 1866.
R. Ward, Islamic metalwork (London, The British Museum Press, 1993)