Statens museer för världskultur - Medelhavsmuseet
Mamluk (1250-1517)
Syriska berättelser
1.3.0 2026-08-02 pilgrim bottle, flaska Rådata 3300256 objekt Statens museer för världskultur - Medelhavsmuseet SMVK-MM Föremål http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/objekt/3300256 NM 0131/1935 A so-called “Pilgrim bottle”, circular body, flat on the sides, two handles attached to the shoulder of the body below and above to the upper of the neck. Greyish white paste, unglazed, moulded geometrical patterns arragned around a central rosette. NM 0131/1935, Gift from the Crown Prince of Sweden to the NM through KF. Purchased in Aleppo as an item found during excavations bought together with 0130, 0131/1935. Price 120 SEK., This shape seems to be found also amongst metallic items, for instance there’s a bottle made of brass and inlaid with silver in the Freer Gallery of Arts in Washington, which dates from the first half af the 13th century. This is published by M.S. Dimand, “A silver inlaid bronze canteen with Christian objects in the Eumorfopoulus collection”, Ars Islamica, vol. I (1934), pp. 17-21., Urval Syriska berättelser, Restorations on handles, broken rim, H. 26,5 cm., W. 21,5 cm, rim Ø. 7,9 cm., Islams värld - en utställning från Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm 1986, cat. nr. 15. Permanent exhibition, Islam gallery, Medelhavsmuseet?, Fehérvari G., Islamic Pottery, A comprehensive study based on the Barlow Collection, London 1973, p. 114-16. Lane, A., Early Islamic Pottery, London 1947, pp. 27-28, n° 37a. Day, F.E., “Some Islamic pilgrim bottles”, Beyrutus, vol. II (1935), pp: 5-.10, Pls. II-VI, Islams värld - en utställning från Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm 1986, cat. nr. 15., The heavy, pinkish-grey earthenware flask belongs to the group of the so-called pilgrim bottles. The body of this type of pilgrim bottle is commonly composed of two flat circular sides, each with a broad, flanged edge and an unornamented strip of earthenware in the middle connecting the two side parts. This connecting strip is slightly concave so that the flask stands in a safe upright position on the edges of the side parts. Above, the bottle has a flared neck consisting of two sections separated by a ring in relief. The rim of the neck is damaged. For carrying and suspension, there are two handles fixed to the neck and to the shoulders. The bottle shows identical moulded decoration on both sides. At the centre there is an eight-petalled rosette surrounded by an arabesque scroll. The four double-framed leaf forms of the outer zone are set against a dense background pattern of tiny rhombs. On similar bottles the centre of the sides often bears an emblem easily recognised as belonging to one of the Ayyubid or Mamluk sultans and amirs. These emblems were attributes of their dignity. A rosette might not appear to be a specific emblem but it does actually belong to them. It is actually one of the oldest devices used under the Ayyubids and early Mamluks. They usually chose six-petalled rosettes. Only one amir, Musa bin Yaghmur (AH 599–663 / AD 1203–65), seems to be known whose emblem was a white eight-petalled rosette as seen on this bottle. He was governor of Cairo under the Ayyubid al-Malik al-Salih and in AH 648 / AD 1250 under al-Malik al-Mu'azzam governor of Damascus. Judging by the unglazed body, this bottle could have been used for storing liquids such as water. The porous material allowed evaporation to keep the liquid stored in it cool. Source: [https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;se;Mus01;13;en&cp] How date and origin were established: An Ayyubid amir, Musa bin Yaghmur (599–663 / 1203–65), is known to have as an emblem the eight-petalled rosette without shield. How Object was obtained: Gift of the Swedish Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1935. How provenance was established: There are different clues. Musa bin Yaghmur to whom the bottle may be ascribed was governor of Damascus. Other pilgrim bottles of this type come from Syria and Jordan. This bottle is supposed to have been excavated, probably in Syria, since it was bought by the Swedish Crown Prince in Aleppo. Source: [https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;se;Mus01;13;en&cp], https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;se;Mus01;13;en, Berättelser från Syrien, Berättelser från Syrien - Damaskus, Pilgrimsflaska. 12-1300-tal. Brukad Mamluk (1250-1517) Ursprung Asien, Syrien Ägd Nationalmuseum, Stockholm image/jpeg https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/tn/3806773/representation https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/zoom/3806774/representation http://kulturarvsdata.se/resurser/License#cc0 Kaneberg, Ove Utgången upphovsrätt image/jpeg https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/tn/3806776/representation https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/zoom/3806777/representation http://kulturarvsdata.se/resurser/License#cc0 Kaneberg, Ove Utgången upphovsrätt image/jpeg https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/tn/3806779/representation https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/zoom/3806780/representation http://kulturarvsdata.se/resurser/License#cc0 Kaneberg, Ove Utgången upphovsrätt image/jpeg https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/tn/3806785/representation https://collections.smvk.se/carlotta-mhm/web/image/zoom/3806786/representation http://kulturarvsdata.se/resurser/License#cc0 Kaneberg, Ove Utgången upphovsrätt http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/Photograph/3911364 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/Photograph/3911365 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/Photograph/3911366 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/Photograph/3911367 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/exhibition/4278385 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/exhibitionpart/4278386 https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;se;Mus01;13;en http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/objekt/html/3300256 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/objekt/xml/3300256 http://kulturarvsdata.se/SMVK-MM/objekt/rdf/3300256
Description
A so-called “Pilgrim bottle”, circular body, flat on the sides, two handles attached to the shoulder of the body below and above to the upper of the neck. Greyish white paste, unglazed, moulded geometrical patterns arragned around a central rosette.
Inventory number
Acquisition
Gift from the Crown Prince of Sweden to the NM through KF. Purchased in Aleppo as an item found during excavations bought together with 0130, 0131/1935. Price 120 SEK.
Comments
This shape seems to be found also amongst metallic items, for instance there’s a bottle made of brass and inlaid with silver in the Freer Gallery of Arts in Washington, which dates from the first half af the 13th century. This is published by M.S. Dimand, “A silver inlaid bronze canteen with Christian objects in the Eumorfopoulus collection”, Ars Islamica, vol. I (1934), pp. 17-21.
Urval Syriska berättelser
Condition
Restorations on handles, broken rim
Dimensions
H. 26,5 cm., W. 21,5 cm, rim Ø. 7,9 cm.
Exhibitions
Islams värld - en utställning från Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm 1986, cat. nr. 15. Permanent exhibition, Islam gallery, Medelhavsmuseet?
Cf Publications
Fehérvari G., Islamic Pottery, A comprehensive study based on the Barlow Collection, London 1973, p. 114-16. Lane, A., Early Islamic Pottery, London 1947, pp. 27-28, n° 37a. Day, F.E., “Some Islamic pilgrim bottles”, Beyrutus, vol. II (1935), pp: 5-.10, Pls. II-VI
Publications
Islams värld - en utställning från Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm 1986, cat. nr. 15.
Published text
The heavy, pinkish-grey earthenware flask belongs to the group of the so-called pilgrim bottles. The body of this type of pilgrim bottle is commonly composed of two flat circular sides, each with a broad, flanged edge and an unornamented strip of earthenware in the middle connecting the two side parts. This connecting strip is slightly concave so that the flask stands in a safe upright position on the edges of the side parts. Above, the bottle has a flared neck consisting of two sections separated by a ring in relief. The rim of the neck is damaged. For carrying and suspension, there are two handles fixed to the neck and to the shoulders. The bottle shows identical moulded decoration on both sides. At the centre there is an eight-petalled rosette surrounded by an arabesque scroll. The four double-framed leaf forms of the outer zone are set against a dense background pattern of tiny rhombs. On similar bottles the centre of the sides often bears an emblem easily recognised as belonging to one of the Ayyubid or Mamluk sultans and amirs. These emblems were attributes of their dignity. A rosette might not appear to be a specific emblem but it does actually belong to them. It is actually one of the oldest devices used under the Ayyubids and early Mamluks. They usually chose six-petalled rosettes. Only one amir, Musa bin Yaghmur (AH 599–663 / AD 1203–65), seems to be known whose emblem was a white eight-petalled rosette as seen on this bottle. He was governor of Cairo under the Ayyubid al-Malik al-Salih and in AH 648 / AD 1250 under al-Malik al-Mu'azzam governor of Damascus. Judging by the unglazed body, this bottle could have been used for storing liquids such as water. The porous material allowed evaporation to keep the liquid stored in it cool. Source: [https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;se;Mus01;13;en&cp] How date and origin were established: An Ayyubid amir, Musa bin Yaghmur (599–663 / 1203–65), is known to have as an emblem the eight-petalled rosette without shield. How Object was obtained: Gift of the Swedish Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1935. How provenance was established: There are different clues. Musa bin Yaghmur to whom the bottle may be ascribed was governor of Damascus. Other pilgrim bottles of this type come from Syria and Jordan. This bottle is supposed to have been excavated, probably in Syria, since it was bought by the Swedish Crown Prince in Aleppo. Source: [https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;se;Mus01;13;en&cp]
Source / http
Exhibition / Previously
Berättelser från Syrien
Exhibition, Part of / Previously
Berättelser från Syrien - Damaskus
Description, Swedish
Pilgrimsflaska. 12-1300-tal.
Material, engelska
Unglazed pottery
Material
Lera
Keramik
Height / Höjd
Diameter
Object
pilgrim bottle
Object, Swedish
flaska
Brukad
Ursprung
Asien
Syrien
Ägd
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Kaneberg, Ove
Utgången upphovsrätt