Museum of Islamic Art - photos
Photos and information of a selection of exhibits shown at the Museum of Islamic Art, located in the Pergamon Museum on the Berlin Museum Island.
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c. 800, Abbasids
Copper alloy, silver, copper, cast, engraved/chased, inlaid, with black mass height: 34,5 cm, width: 35 cm
Pouring vessel in the shape of a large bird of prey, probably an eagle. Head, wing and tail feathers are plastically worked, the plumage is engraved in a scale pattern. The upper side of the neck as well as the entire surface of the body are engraved with larger and smaller interwoven medallions in which flowers, rosettes, hares, other quadrupeds and various birds appear. All other surfaces are covered with leaf tendrils, which are strongly reminiscent of the stucco friezes from Samarra (Iraq) and Raqqa (Syria).
On the back, a jumping animal is attached as handle, whose head is missing and whose front legs stand on an animal head. On the head of the eagle there is a filling hole on top; another opening is closed under the belly with a lid. Liquids could be poured out through the beak.
Such aquamaniles are rare in Islamic art - they were reserved for the highest royal circles.
(From a text in: SMB-digital, online collections database. Transl.: UiU)
© Photo: Haupt & Binder
Photos and information of a selection of exhibits shown at the Museum of Islamic Art, located in the Pergamon Museum on the Berlin Museum Island.