ewer | Spencer Museum of Art

ewer , 1800s, Qajar period (1795–1925)

Where object was made: Persia (present-day Iran)

Material/technique: paint; gilding; glass

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.1799

Not on display

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Thayer Today

This glass ewer is decorated with calligraphic designs. Calligraphy—from the Greek for “beautiful writing”—is a fundamental element of art produced throughout the Islamic world, where the calligraphic text is often integrated into complex visual compositions. Look for this Persian ewer among several objects in the Cabinet of Curiosities in the exhibition, Empire of Things. It is one of two that Sallie Casey Thayer purchased. The other example is made from lusterware and, together, they embody two media that are especially well-represented in Thayer’s collections.

Empire of Things

These glass works are decorated with calligraphic designs. Calligraphy is a fundamental element of Islamic art because the religion’s sacred text-the Qur’an-is written in Arabic script.

Cabinet of Curiosities

These glass works are decorated with calligraphic designs. Calligraphy is a fundamental element of Islamic art because the religion’s sacred text-the Qur’an-is written in Arabic script.

Empire of Things

These glass works are decorated with calligraphic designs. Calligraphy is a fundamental element of Islamic art because the religion’s sacred text-the Qur’an-is written in Arabic script.

Empire of Things

These glass works are decorated with calligraphic designs. Calligraphy is a fundamental element of Islamic art because the religion’s sacred text-the Qur’an-is written in Arabic script.