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Timurid dynasty, AH 903 / 1498 CE
From Herat, Afghanistan
Brass
Height: 12.9 cm
The British Museum, London
Acquisition number: # OA 1962.7-18.1
Image courtesy of the British Museum (copyright reserved).
As described by the experts at the British Museum, around the neck of this tankard is inscribed the name and titles of Abu al-Ghazi Sultan Hussein (1470-1506), a Timurid ruler known for his artistic patronage. His court was famous for its cultural activities, including banquets with musical performances, poetry recitals, literary discussions and riddle competitions. Tankards such as this were used for the consumption of wine (common at such gatherings), with some examples inscribed with verses praising the virtues of wine. The tankard also includes an inscription with both a date and the name of the craftsman, Muhammad ibn Shamsi al-Ghuri, on the base.1
This tankard is missing its dragon handle; originally it would have looked very similar to a wine jug in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, also included in this exhibition. Like the jug, the tankard's shape is based upon examples of porcelain created by Ming-era Chinese craftsmen, for which there was a large market throughout Central Asia and the Muslim world.
References:
(1) From the British Museum web page dedicated to this object.