Blacas ewer

[2]: 23  It formed the part of the personal collection of the French antiquarian Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas, which was published in 1828.

[1] Inside the medallions are figural scenes depicting a wide variety of courtly activities: hunting, sports, and feasts with music and dance.

[1] There are also literary scenes, such as a depiction of Bahram Gur hunting on camelback while Azadeh plays the harp by his side—a story from the Shahnama.

[1] In this case, though, the design is interrupted by an octagonal symbol filled with geometric patterns, which may have been a brand mark or guild emblem.

[2]: 30–1 The scenes illustrated on the ewer depict contemporary life of the wealthy and powerful, likely reflecting the high status of its original owner.