Aquamanile (Ram-shaped Ewer)

Persia (Iran)

13th–14th century

Stonepaste with clear turquoise glaze, black underglaze-painted decor, Kashan ware

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A turquoise glazed ceramic ewer in the shape of a ram, decorated with black painted birds and geometric patterns. Although round ceramic sculpture is relatively rare in Islamic art, decorated figures in both metal and ceramic ware were popular in Iran and Turkey during Seljuk rule. The bull shape, shown here in two examples, was the most common, but camel, ram, and lion-shaped vessels have survived as well. Gallery G243 Bequest of Alfred F. Pillsbury