Ewer thumbnail 1
Ewer thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 63, The Edwin and Susan Davies Gallery

Ewer

1500-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

There was a great volume of traffic in inlaid metalwork throughout the Mamluk period. The large number of Mamluk inlaid objects which have survived with their inlay intact are the results of this trade. This continuity in trade hides a difference between 14th and 15th century Mamluk products. For most of the 14th century the main patrons of Mamluk metalwork were undoubtedly the Mamluk sultans and emirs, while those of the end of the 14th and 15th century are less overtly Mamluk and leave a space for European insignia to be added. By the second half of the 15th century the Europeans dominate the industry, supplying the metal and sometimes the objects themselves to be decorated. Traditional forms are less common and often replaced by Italian ones indicating an industry geared to export.

There is ongoing scholarly debate about the origin of so-called Veneto-Saracenic metalwork, regarding whether it was manufactured in Venice or in Mamluk Syria and Egypt and whether it was made by Venetian or Muslim craftsmen. A further complication is that metal objects are known to have been produced in Venice for decoration in the Near East. James Allan has identified two groups of such wares which he has attributed to Cairo and Damascus, rather than Italy, based on their decorative scheme. Although this ewer fits into his Cairo group with its linear inlay, background decoration of finely scrolling stems and areas highlighted with silver, the shape is so Italian in form that it seems to have been manufactured there.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brass, engraved and damascened with silver
Brief description
Oval brass ewer with trefoil lip decorated with overall damascening and silver overlay, Venetian-Saracenic, 16th century
Physical description
Oval brass ewer, with a narrow neck and trefoil lip, with a round foot and tinned copper scroll handle. Decorated all-over with silver damascene and floral arabesques.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.5cm
  • Width: 16cm
  • Depth: 12cm
  • Weight: 1.25kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Style
Credit line
Given by Dr W L Hildburgh, FSA
Object history
There is ongoing scholarly debate about the origin of so-called Veneto-Saracenic metalwork regarding whether it was manufactured in Venice or in Mamluk Syria and Egypt and whether it was made by Venetian or Muslim craftsmen. A further complication is that metal objects are known to have been produced in Venice for decoration in the Near East. James Allan has identified two groups of such wares which he has attributed to Cairo and Damascus, rather than Italy, based on their decorative scheme. Although this ewer fits into to his Cairo group with its linear inlay, background decoration of finely scrolling stems and areas highlighted with silver, the shape is so Italian in form that it seems to have been manufactured there.
Historical context
There was a great volume of traffic in inlaid metalwork throughout the Mamluk period. The large number of Mamluk inlaid objects which have survived with their inlay intact are the results of this trade. This continuity in trade hides a difference between 14th and 15th century Mamluk products. For most of the 14th century the main patrons of Mamluk metalwork were undoubtedly the Mamluk sultans and emirs, while those of the end of the 14th and 15th century are less overtly Mamluk and leave a space for European insignia to be added. By the second half of the 15th century the Europeans dominate the industry, supplying the metal and sometimes the objects themselves to be decorated. Traditional forms are less common and often replaced by Italian ones indicating an industry geared to export.
Subject depicted
Summary
There was a great volume of traffic in inlaid metalwork throughout the Mamluk period. The large number of Mamluk inlaid objects which have survived with their inlay intact are the results of this trade. This continuity in trade hides a difference between 14th and 15th century Mamluk products. For most of the 14th century the main patrons of Mamluk metalwork were undoubtedly the Mamluk sultans and emirs, while those of the end of the 14th and 15th century are less overtly Mamluk and leave a space for European insignia to be added. By the second half of the 15th century the Europeans dominate the industry, supplying the metal and sometimes the objects themselves to be decorated. Traditional forms are less common and often replaced by Italian ones indicating an industry geared to export.

There is ongoing scholarly debate about the origin of so-called Veneto-Saracenic metalwork, regarding whether it was manufactured in Venice or in Mamluk Syria and Egypt and whether it was made by Venetian or Muslim craftsmen. A further complication is that metal objects are known to have been produced in Venice for decoration in the Near East. James Allan has identified two groups of such wares which he has attributed to Cairo and Damascus, rather than Italy, based on their decorative scheme. Although this ewer fits into his Cairo group with its linear inlay, background decoration of finely scrolling stems and areas highlighted with silver, the shape is so Italian in form that it seems to have been manufactured there.
Bibliographic references
  • J. Allan, Metalwork of the Islamic World. The Aron Collection. London, 1986, fig. 49.
  • Haedecke, H.V., Metalwork, London, 1970. p.69
  • Sievernich, Gereon, and Budde, Hendrik, Europa und der Orient 800-1900 , Berlin, 1989. Catalogue of the exhibition, 28 May - 27 August, 1989. 923 p., ill. ISBN 3750048144 Catalogue entry 4/105 p606, (Ill. 238)
  • Tim Stanley (ed.), with Mariam Rosser-Owen and Stephen Vernoit, Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East, London, V&A Publications, 2004 p.128
  • Sylvia Auld, Renaissance Venice, Islam and Mahmud the Kurd. A metalworking enigma, 2004, no.8.9, p.299.
Collection
Accession number
M.31-1946

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 11, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest