Seljuk Kashan Turquoise-Glazed Pottery Ewer

The Seljuk Empire, c. 1037-1194AD, Kashan, Persia

Magnificent and rare turquoise-glazed Kashan ewer of metalwork form on a short straight unglazed foot with slightly tapering cylindrical body moulded with vertical flutes. The rounded sloping shoulder leading to a slender neck. The horizonal tubular spout moulded with circular opening and the curved handle. The Great Seljuk Empire (1037-1194AD) was a high medieval Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim Empire founded by Tuğrul Beg and his brother Chağribey Beg in 1037. The Seljuks were a subdivision of the Qiniq branch of the Oğuz Turks, originating on the steppe north of the Aral Sea. At the time of its greatest extent, the Seljuk Empire controlled a vast area, stretching from western Anatolia and the Levant in the west to the Hindu Kush in the east, and from Central Asia in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south and was the target of the First Crusade (1095-1099AD). Starting in the 1140's, during the Second Crusade (1147- 1149AD), the Seljuk Empire declined, and was eventually replaced by the Khwarazmian Dynasty in 1194. Kashan was a Persian city known for producing high-quality pottery during the medieval period. The town was well-situated, near sources of minerals needed to create their distinctive light-colored stone pastes called "frit-ware". Copper oxide was one of the raw materials used to color glazes. When copper oxide is used in a lead glaze, it turns a abundant, green color, while it becomes more turquoise in an alkaline glaze. Alkaline glazes, perhaps best known for producing the classic Egyptian turquoise color, date back thousands of years and were found in Persia, China, and Mesopotamia. 

Superb small-sized ewer are in excellent condition. Intact. Rich turquoise glaze thinning at the edges and attractively pooling and darkening in the recesses. Intentional glaze crackling and discoloration to the glaze due to misfiring. Absolutely gorgeous encrusted patina. Age-related wear and extensive iridescence. Size approx. 13,8cm x 7,5cm x 7,5cm. 

Provenance: Finnish private collection

For a similar example see:

Ewer, The British Museum, Accession Number: 1910,0511.1 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1910-0511-1)

References and further reading:

Seljuk Turks, History Maps. (https://history-maps.com/story/Seljuk-Turks)

Seljuk Turks, New World Encyclopedia, April 21, 2023. (https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php title=Seljuk_Turks&oldid=1109731.)