The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of February 6, 2023

Jug

900s

Iran or Iraq, Baghdad, Buyid Period, reign of Samsam al-Dawla

(985-998 AD)

Gold with repoussé and chased and engraved decoration

Overall: 12.5 x 10.2 cm (4 15/16 x 4 in.); Diameter of base: 7 cm (2 3/4 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1966.22

Location

not on view

Description

This jug is one of the rare surviving Islamic vessels made entirely of precious metal. Its inscription bands contain Arabic poetry that translates, in part: "You are the image of the full moon at night, the first gleam of sun on the horizon of the morning. You are a sword in the times of war, a beneficent rain in times of peace . . . your sword cuts the necks of Buyid enemies in great quantities . . . Glory and prosperity to the just king Samsam al-Dawla . . . May God lengthen your reign!"

Inscriptions

Inscription

The inscription bands contain Arabic poetry which translates, in part: "You are the image of the full moon at night, the first gleam of sun on the horizon of the morning. You are a sword in the times of war, a beneficent rain in times of peace...your sword cuts the necks of Buyid enemies in great quantities...Glory and prosperity to the just king Samsam al-Dawla...May God lengthen your reign!" Arabic inscription with blessings and titles; & Arabic poetic verses

Provenance
?-1966
Mrs. Paul [Marguerite] Mallon [d. 1977], sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
1966-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 208 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 208 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 264 archive.org
BLOOM, JONATHAN M. “Facts and Fantasy in Buyid Art.” Oriente Moderno 23 (84), no. 2 (2004): 387–400. p. 387-400, fig. 6, p. 399
Gertsman, Elina and Barbara H. Rosenwein. The Middle Ages in 50 Objects. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018. Mentioned: p. 122-125; Reproduced: p. 123
Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1966.22