Unique Persian 11th Century anthropomorphic & Zoomorphic Drinking Vessel with Thermoluminescence (TL) Certificate Islamic Period

An undocumented, possibly unique Sphero-Conical Vessel incorporating both anthropomorphic and zoomorphic styles
10th -12th Century Eastern Persian Empire.

This is an extremely unusual glazed earthenware vessel in the combined form of a male head with a bird’s body. The size and shape of the body resembles a pigeon.

The debate on the function of these sphero-conical vessels has raged on for several decades with various suggestions from ‘hand grenades’, perfume sprinklers through to wine (or even beer) gourds.

This particular anthropomorphic shape does not appear in the corpus of literature relating to these peculiar vessels. There is a zoomorphic sphero-conical vessel in the shape of a bird in the Barakat Gallery collection. However, the human head is not present in that example.

There are several remarkable features on this vessel that link it with known examples. The main body is shaped like a typical sphero-conical vessel yet it has two wings moulded in relief and of course the male head.

This piece stands freely on three applied feet. The male head has delightful features such as pronounced eyes, a wonderful moustache, a prominent nose, a small beard and then what appears to be either hair or a small cap at the top of the head.

The other feature that makes this unusual and possibly unique is the small handle.
The fact that it has remnants of glazing is also an unusual factor.

In Oliver Watson’s “Ceramics from Islamic Lands – The Al Sabah Collection”, there is a sphero-conical vessel with identical circular boss decoration is illustrated (Cat. Ad.1, page 129).

Furthermore, Watson notes that this type of vessel is typified by a constricted neck “often with a pronounced groove beneath the lip (a feature that enables a stopper to be tied down) and the opening is usually no more than a few millimetres in diameter”.
Interestingly, the pronounced groove is clearly visible around the upper head of the male and the tiny opening forms his mouth.

Therefore, if this were a vessel to drink from, the drinker would have to place their lips over the lips of the male and suck the liquid out.

As Watson observes “It is certain from the variety in this class of vessels that they served not one but a multitude of specific purposes. In short, most proposals may well be right”.

CONDITION
This amazing artefact has some very minimal professional restoration to the tail/wing tips and on the central boss at the front of the vessel.

DIMENSIONS
Height 16cm Length 17cm Weight 1.1kg

TL TEST
Positive for the period of manufacture (conducted by Oxford Authentication and original certificate will be included).

Independently valued for insurance £6,000.

Further details and images available on request.

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