A New Finding of Eastern Toreutics of the Middle Ages in the Southern Urals

Abstract

The authors examine one of the findings in the Southern Urals – fragment of a jug made of brass of Iranian origin. This unique item of the 12th-beginning of the 13th centuries is decorated by embossing and inlays, complex patterns of arabesques and figures of lions (the body of the vessel is not preserved). The Basma technique on both sides of the neck of the housing relief shows a figure of sitting lions in heraldic position. At the top of the drain- spout another figure is noticeable – a reclining lion, which had been drafted, but had not been worked out the whole way. “Lateral” figures of lions surrounded the geometric sections of the bands with varied arabesque ornaments (motifs of winding vines, rows of tulips, rhythmic interlocking lines, etc.). Elements of artistic decoration of the vessel, combining the tradition of realistic plastic silhouettes of Iranian and Muslim canonical vegetable and geometrical ornaments, are typical for construction of decorative patterns in toreutics periods till the domination of the representatives of the Turkic Seljuk dynasty in Iran. Analogs of this jug show the gradation of vessels of such forms (in the form of corrugated bud) for luxury products with rich inlay (vessels of Herat and Mosul) and simplified imitation of prestigious products (Yasydepe, Merv, Nizhnehozyatovo et al.). It is an imported product of Eastern toreutics found in the medieval villages of the Bashkirs. Ornamental composition reflects good wishes to the owner of the vessel, includes the traditional Iranian (realistic) and the Muslim plant of fine trend. Similar jugs were found in different points of Iran, but experts believe that their products are traditional artisans. Finding of the Bashkortostan Republic is the imitation of prestigious products, differing with the grace and subtlety of a professional work.

Keywords

• southern ural
• middle ages
• import
• iranian toreutics
• jug
• khorasan
• 13th century