FLATTENED JAR, Islamic Pottery, with handles, Ancient (3rd–12th centuries)

Flattened two-handled jar of Islamic pottery.

This ceramic flattened jar dates to the 9th–11th centuries and comes from Kashan, Syria, or the region around Iraq. It has a thin, nearly disc-shaped body, a short neck and a thick rim, with small paired handles on the shoulder. Although a modest work measuring approximately 10 cm across, it retains well the ancient form characteristic of a portable vessel.

In Islamic pottery, from the early period through the medieval era, glazed wares—such as those with blue, green, and white glazes—were produced across many regions. These flattened jars served as portable vessels for water, perfumes, and similar substances, and comparable examples with blue glaze are also known.

Much of the glaze on this piece has been lost, exposing a white, abraded body. Pale blue-green glaze traces remain here and there, mixed with reddish clay, areas of whitening, and adherent soil. While any decoration is largely indistinct, the dry surface and flattened profile convey the characteristic charm of ancient ceramics.

The rim, handles, and body exhibit chips, abrasion, areas of glaze loss, and adhered soil. Though modest in size, this double-handled flattened jar conveys the simple, unadorned character of early Islamic ceramics.

For a comparable example, see the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number: 32.150.82).