Accession Number
1959/1.93

Title
Narrow-neck jug with single handle and molded decorative register at shoulder

Artist(s)
Iranian

Artist Nationality
Iranian

Object Creation Date
10th century - 12th century

Medium & Support
molded terracotta

Dimensions
7 5/8 in. x 6 in. x 6 in. ( 19.37 cm x 15.24 cm x 15.24 cm )

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Label copy
The inscription on this unglazed jug is written in a rather simple Kufic script, quite likely by an unlettered craftsman who did not adequately plan for the entire two lines of poetry quoted here. Interestingly, both this and the animal-headed ewer on view in this same case have the same poetic inscription:
"Do you not see that poverty wishes for wealth and that wealth is to be protected against poverty?"
The poem, generally attributed to Imam ‘Ali, the first leader of Shi‘ism, is actually recorded in later compendia of Arabic poetry, including al-‘Iqd al-Farid. Its use on an object from a non-Arab-speaking environment attests to the symbolic value of writing and to the great cache of Arabic poetry.
Yasser Tabbaa, Guest Curator, ‘Art of the Written Word,” 1/15–6/5/2005

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
pitcher

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Islamic (culture or style)
ceramics (object genre)
jugs (vessels)