Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Closely examine one of the greatest—and most mysterious and curious—metalworks of the Islamic world: a large brass canteen from mid-thirteenth-century Iraq. Explore the dense mix of Christian images and Islamic calligraphy decorating the surface. We muse on who may have used the canteen, the artist’s Christian reference points, and the unusual shape of the object.
Speakers: Dr. Massumeh Farhad, The Ebrahimi Family Curator of Persian, Arab, and Turkish Art, Senior Associate Director for Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. Beth Harris, Smarthistory
Canteen; Iraq, probably Mosul, mid-13th century; brass, silver inlay; 45.2 × 36.7 cm (17 13/16 × 14 7/16 in.); National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase–Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1941.10
More information about this object:
https://asia.si.edu/explore-art-culture/collections/search/edanmdm:fsg_F1941.10/
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art: asia.si.edu
Smarthistory: smarthistory.org
Closely examine one of the greatest—and most mysterious and curious—metalworks of the Islamic world: a large brass canteen from mid-thirteenth-century Iraq. Explore the dense mix of Christian images and Islamic calligraphy decorating the surface. We muse on who may have used the canteen, the artist’s Christian reference points, and the unusual shape of the object.
Speakers: Dr. Massumeh Farhad, The Ebrahimi Family Curator of Persian, Arab, and Turkish Art, Senior Associate Director for Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. Beth Harris, Smarthistory
Canteen; Iraq, probably Mosul, mid-13th century; brass, silver inlay; 45.2 × 36.7 cm (17 13/16 × 14 7/16 in.); National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase–Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1941.10
More information about this object:
https://asia.si.edu/explore-art-culture/collections/search/edanmdm:fsg_F1941.10/
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art: asia.si.edu
Smarthistory: smarthistory.org
