Name of Object:

A pilgrim’s flask

Location:

Amman, Jordan

Holding Museum:

Jordan Archaeological Museum

 About Jordan Archaeological Museum, Amman

Date of Object:

Hegira 8th century / AD 14th century

Museum Inventory Number:

J. 98

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Wheel-thrown ceramic.

Dimensions:

Height 17.5 cm, width 15.5 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Mamluk

Provenance:

Unknown, probably Syria.

Description:

A ceramic pilgrim's flask, sometimes called a Zamzameyyah, due to the fact that pilgrims used to fill such flasks with holy water from the famous well in Mecca called Zamzam.

This type of ware is usually tan or creamy buff in color. These flasks are made of two separate moulded discs which are joined together; the neck and handles are then added. There is a guilloche decoration at the juncture to hide the join. The moulds of the discs have hollow decorations to form a pattern in relief on the surface of the flasks. Often the decoration includes an emblem or rank to indicate the status or profession of the owner, normally an official associated with the Ayyubid or Mamluk court. On this particular flask we have a lily in the middle with a sword on either side, an emblem belonging to several sultans and amirs of the time.

View Short Description

A ceramic pilgrim’s flask or zamzamiyyah after the holy well of Zamzam in Mecca. Made of two moulded discs which are joined together, the design has a lily in the middle with a sword on either side, an emblem belonging to several sultans and amirs of the time.

How date and origin were established:

The flask was dated by stylistic analysis and by comparing it to similar dated artifacts in other museums, such as other pilgrim's flasks displayed in Damascus National Museum.

How Object was obtained:

Purchased from an antiquities dealer.

How provenance was established:

The provenance of this flask is unknown but it was probably produced in Syria.

Selected bibliography:

ساري. صالح، الفخار الأيوبي و المملوكي في بلاد الشام 567-923 ه/1171 – 1575 م، رسالة ماجستير، الجامعة الأردنية، 1979، 120، شكل 36.

البهنسي.عفيف، (تحقيق) الآثار السورية: مجموعة أبحاث أثرية و تاريخية (ماينز على الراين، 1982)، ص 285، شكل 253.

العش، محمد،" الفخار غير المطلي" الحوليات الأثرية السورية، المجلد العاشر، 1960، ص. 135-184، لوحة 18، رقم 78-84.

Herzfeld, E., "Damascus: Studies in Architecture I," Ars Islamica, IX, 1942, p.11, fig. 6.9

Citation of this web page:

Aida Naghawy "A pilgrim’s flask" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;jo;Mus01;27;en

Prepared by: Aida Naghawy
Copyedited by: Mandi Gomez


MWNF Working Number: JO 53