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Footed Bowl

early 13th century
Not on view
This footed bowl has a rich program of inlaid silver decoration. There are epigraphic bands under the rim and around the foot, each with blessings for the bowl's owner in animated script, with a band of medallions containing the signs of the Zodiac in the middle. Each medallion is framed by a ring of pointed rays that underscore the solar symbolism of the decoration, and each sign is shown with its Planetary Lord.

In Arabic, Aquarius is called al-dalw ("the water bucket") when referring to the sign of the Zodiac, and sakib al-ma ("the water pourer") when referring to the constellation. Correspondingly, illustrations of the Zodiac show Saturn, the Planetary Lord of Aquarius, raising a bucket of water from a well, whereas illustrations of the constellation, following the original Greek name, show a male figure pouring water from a vessel.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Footed Bowl
  • Date: early 13th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Bronze; inlaid with silver and black compound
  • Dimensions: H. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm)
    Diam. 6 15/16 in. (17.6 cm)
    Wt. 26.3 oz. (745.7 g)
  • Classification: Metal
  • Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
  • Object Number: 91.1.543
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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