‘Pilgrim Flask’

Location: Mughal India or the Deccan

Materials: cast brass

Dimensions: 30.5 x 30.5cm

Accession Number: MTW 1530

Other Notes:

With graceful handles recalling elephants’ trunks, the form of this flask probably derives from leather water skins. A leather vessel of this shape is depicted in an encampment scene from the copy of Safi ibn Vali’s Anis al-hujjaj in the Collection, painted circa 1677–80 [folio 15a; see MSS 1025].

Bibliography:

J.M. Rogers, The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the Khalili Collection, London 2010, cat.356, pp.300–01.