Canteen

Object Details

• Description

  Canteen; a pit in one side and a strainer inside the neck; handles probably later additions (Brass). Decoration executed in silver inlay, with details engraved; the designs of both Christian and Islamic origin. Inscriptions written in Kufic and in naskhi scripts.

• Inscriptions

  Inscriptions written in Kufic and in naskhi scripts.

• Label

  This large, impressive canteen, the only known example of its kind from the Islamic world, recalls the shape of ceramic pilgrim flasks. Its inlaid silver decoration combines calligraphy and decorative motifs, such as intricate geometric designs, and lively animal scrolls, with Christian imagery. These include a representation of the Virgin and Child in the center, surrounded by narrative scenes from the life of Christ as well as saints and knights. It has been suggested that the canteen may have been commissioned by a wealthy Christian, perhaps, as a special memento of his travels.

• Provenance

  To 1845

  Prince Filippo Andrea Doria, Italy to 1845 [1]

  To at least 1934

  George A. Eumorfopoulos (1863-1939), London [2]

  To 1941

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York [3]

  From 1941

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York in 1941 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See M. Lanci, Trattato delle Simboliche Rappresentanze Arabiche, vol. II, pp. 141-3145 and vol. III, pls. XLV-XLVI, Nos. A, B, and 1-2. Also refer to Curatorial Remark 4 in the object record.

  [2] According to Dimand, M., "A Silver Inlaid Bronze Canteen with Christian Subjects in the Eumorfopoulos Collection," Ars Islamica, vol. 1, no. 1 (1934), pp. 16-21. As of the publication of this article by M. S. Dimand, the canteen was still in the George Eumorfopoulos Collection.

  [3] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record. For additional information, see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

  [4] See note 3.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Crosscurrents in Chinese and Islamic Ceramics (March 1, 1996 to July 1, 1997)

  America Meets Asia at the Freer Gallery of Art (May 9, 1993 to April 18, 1998)

  Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art (September 27, 1985 to November 17, 1986)

  Christian Themes in Thirteenth-Century Islamic Metalwork (December 18, 1984 to September 3, 1985)

  Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

  Art of the Arab World (May 8, 1975 to August 20, 1977)

  Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)

  Untitled Exhibition, Canteens, South Corridor (June 19, 1971 to September 25, 1971)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Near Eastern Art (June 5, 1964 to August 18, 1967)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

  Islamic Art, Gallery 6A (July 22, 1958 to June 5, 1964)

  Centennial Exhibition, South Corridor (February 25, 1956 to October 27, 1959)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

  Special Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts and East Christian Art (February 15, 1955 to April 13, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, 1955 (April 12, 1955 to December 16, 1955)

  Special Exhibition (February 9, 1954 to April 20, 1954)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Near Eastern Art, 1947 (June 18, 1947 to October 26, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Armenian Manuscripts, Gallery 6, 1947 (April 23 to October 3, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Arts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Prince Filippo Andrea Doria

  George Aristedes Eumorfopoulos (1863-1939)

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• Origin

  Syria or Northern Iraq

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 04: Engaging the Senses

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1200s, 1300s

• Name

  Eumorfopoulos, George Aristedes, Kevorkian, Hagop, Doria, Filippo Andrea

• Topic

  Hammering, Art, Inlay (process), Washing, Birth, Jesus Christ, Chasing, Kufic script, Arts of the Islamic World, Children, Spinning (metalworking), Virgin Mary, Halo

• Culture

  Muslims, Christians, Iraqis, Ayyubids, Syrians

• Language

  Naskh script

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes