Filter
1000-1200 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This filter fitted into the neck of a water bottle and kept out flies and dust. Such filters were often pierced to form designs. These included abstract patterns, calligraphic inscriptions and figural imagery, such as the elephant seen here.
The filter and the water bottle had a porous body of unglazed earthenware. This allowed water to evaporate through the sides, keeping the contents cool. This practical advantage meant that unglazed water vessels were common in both the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods.
The filter and the water bottle had a porous body of unglazed earthenware. This allowed water to evaporate through the sides, keeping the contents cool. This practical advantage meant that unglazed water vessels were common in both the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Earthenware, pierced and incised decoration |
| Brief description | Filter from a water-jar, pierced and incised to form a picture of an elephant, Egypt, 11th-12th century. |
| Physical description | Fatimid earthenware strainer fragment depicting an elephant in incised and pierced decoration. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Gallery label | Jameel Gallery
12–13 Filters from Two Water Bottles
Egypt, 1000–1200
Pierced earthenware
Museum nos. C.863, 902-1921
Given by G.D. Hornblower, Esq.
(Jameel Gallery) |
| Credit line | Given by G.D. Hornblower, Esq. |
| Object history | Found in excavations in Fustat. |
| Historical context | Strainers were made fit inside the neck of jugs intended to contain water or other liquids to prevent insects from entering. Typically used during the Fatimid and Ayyubid periods, a number have been found in excavations in Fustat, Egypt some with their accompanying jugs. Usually of buff earthenware, though lustre painted and glazed examples exist, they feature anthropomorphic, vegetal and calligraphic designs. |
| Production | Found in excavations in Fustat. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This filter fitted into the neck of a water bottle and kept out flies and dust. Such filters were often pierced to form designs. These included abstract patterns, calligraphic inscriptions and figural imagery, such as the elephant seen here. The filter and the water bottle had a porous body of unglazed earthenware. This allowed water to evaporate through the sides, keeping the contents cool. This practical advantage meant that unglazed water vessels were common in both the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.902-1921 |
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| Record created | July 14, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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