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Collections

Water Jar (habb)8th-10th century

On view:
Geffen Galleries, Earth and Water
Large unglazed ceramic amphora with two loop handles, densely decorated with applied relief scrollwork, a standing robed figure, and a spread-winged bird amid coiling vines
Ceramic two-handled vessel with cream-colored molded relief decoration; upper register features floral and foliate panels separated by rope-twist borders, lower bulbous body decorated with scrolling vines, beaded bands, and a central medallion containing an animal figure.
Large ceramic storage jar with pale grey-green surface and two loop handles, densely covered in applied and incised decoration including floral rosettes, scrolling vines, rope-twist bands, and dotted borders arranged in horizontal registers.
Large ceramic amphora with molded relief decoration, featuring two animal-headed figures flanking a floral panel on the neck, and an oval medallion with a bird amid scrolling vines on the globular body, encircled by bands of beaded and scale patterns in pale buff clay.
Ceramic vessel with globular body and short neck, pale gray-buff clay, with two small loop handles; densely molded and incised decoration including scrolling vines, rosettes, geometric bands, and a central oval medallion enclosing a bird amid foliage.
Ceramic jar with globular body and narrow neck, featuring two small loop handles at the shoulder; covered overall in applied and incised relief decoration of scrolling vines, rosettes, and stylized foliage arranged in horizontal registers, with a row of raised dots encircling the lower body; pale buff clay with weathered surface, photographed against a black background.
Title
Water Jar (habb)
Place Made
Iraq
Date Made
8th-10th century
Medium
Earthenware, applied and incised decoration
Dimensions
24 x 15 1/2 in. (60.96 x 39.37 cm)
Credit Line
The Nasli M. Heeramaneck Collection, gift of Joan Palevsky
Accession Number
M.73.5.710
Classification
Ceramics
Collecting Area
Art of the Middle East: Islamic
Curatorial Notes

This type of unglazed jar, or habb, served as a water cistern. Because of its ungainly ovoid shape with rounded bottom, it would have been placed in the ground or set on some form of support in order to stand upright. Water vessels of this type were typically covered with relief decoration combining abstract and figural motifs that were left unglazed, so that their porosity allowed not only for the filtering of impurities but also for evaporation, which kept the water cool.

Selected Bibliography
  • Komaroff, Linda, editor. Dining with the Sultan: The Fine Art of Feasting. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; New York: DelMonico Books, 2023.