Bird-shaped Vessel
Unknown Artist
1100s
Medium
bronze, cast, with chased and chiseled decoration; eyes inlaid with blue glass
Dimensions
17.5 × 9.5 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Edward L. Whittemore Fund
Accession Number
1948.458
About this artwork
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 ...