{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O38988"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O38988/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KM8907/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KM8907/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KM8907","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KM8908","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN7226","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O38988/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O38988","accessionNumber":"M.54:2-1971","objectType":"Flask","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Flask in the form of a bird.  The bird's head is the stopper, attached to a long rod which is square in section, tapering to an oval section and finally flattening and curving upwards.  The tip is shaped like a spatula, and may have been intended for makeup.\r\n\r\nThe decoration throughout is in silver inlay. The bird's wings are folded across its back.  The bird's wings and tail are decorated with a silver-inlaid geometric pattern of scales, dots and parallel lines, indicating primary and secondary feathers. At the base of the tail is a winged quadruped with long ears and flowing tail which is walking to the left and looking back at a scrolling stalk.\r\n\r\nOn the proper right of the neck is a silver-inlaid hare and on the proper left a hound.\r\n\r\nOn the breast of the bird there is a scene of two opposed riders tilting towards a stylised plant,  their lances bedecked with banners. On both sides there are single roundels in which a seated, cross-legged figure holds two vertical poles each, topped with dragon heads. These refer to planetary, lunar or solar iconography.\r\nAt the top of each wing is a pierced hole.\r\n\r\nThe flat underside of the body has a small hole, possibly for attachment to some sort of stand.\r\n\r\nPatina: red to brown-red. The silver inlay is entirely preserved.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"},{"text":"engraved","id":"AAT53829"},{"text":"inlaid","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast brass, with silver inlay","categories":[{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[{"text":"Islamic","id":"x29301"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2017KM8907","2017KM8908","2006AN7226"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES367332"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES367332"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Stopper","id":""}],[{"text":"Flask","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Khorasan","id":"THES412603"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Herat","id":"x35858"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Afghanistan","id":"x30023"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1150-1200","earliest":"1150-01-01","latest":"1200-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"14","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of the octagonal volume holding the bird with head","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Unknown provenance","historicalContext":"A related flask, the head-shaped stopper now missing, is depicted in the Survey of Persian Art, pl. 1312B, from the Harari Collection.","briefDescription":"Flask in the form of a seated bird, cast brass alloy with silver inlay decoration, Khurasan, Iran, 1150-1200","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. <u>Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World,</u> London:HMSO, 1982, p122, ISBN 0 11 290252 9"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"feathers","id":"x35691"},{"text":"quadruped","id":"x36484"},{"text":"gazelle","id":"x35176"},{"text":"hound","id":"x36479"},{"text":"horseback riders","id":"AAT188602"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.54:2-1971","M.54:1-1971"],"accessionNumberNum":"54","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1971,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Stopper","Flask"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-02","recordCreationDate":"2000-04-20","availableToBook":true}}