Part of the genius of early Islamic potters was their ability to transform simple utilitarian objects into spectacular ones, as is the case with this striking blue-green glazed ewer. The vessel is meant to evoke a rooster, and elements applied at the pinched spout suggest the bird’s comb while the loops along the neck become its wattle. The latter devices are also typically found on metal ewers, where, when shaken, they would create a jingling sound, perhaps to signal for a refill. In the ceramic version, however, they are purely decorative.