al-'Aziz rock crystal ewer
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The al-Aziz rock crystal ewer is a Fatimid ewer vessel dated to c. 11th century Cairo.[1] It currently resides in the Treasury of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. The al-’Aziz ewer is carved from a single piece of rock crystal, standing at approximately 18 centimeters tall with a circular base 12.5 centimeters in diameter. The vessel is pear-like in shape, featuring a wide spout with a narrow neck facilitated by two moldings just above its inscription. Affixed to the ewer is a narrow handle carved from the same piece of rock crystal as the ewer body that extends from the neck down to nearly its base. A figurine of an ibex is affixed to the top of the handle. Below the bottom molding of the ewer is a footring made of gold and enamel, which along with the gold inlaid to the handle, was added in a European workshop that can be dated to the 16th century. The ewer’s body is made of thin walls adorned with unique engravings, the focus of which is a palmette motif whose axis of symmetry aligns with the spout of the ewer. This winding foliate motif extends from the top to the bottom of the ewer, as well as the handle. Flanking either side of the central foliate carvings are engravings of lions, each distinguished by individually carved dots and seated to face the central foliage on the ewer.[2]