running golden, 11th c

www.metmuseum.org Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1964
This earthenware bowl dates from Fatimid-era (909-1171 CE) Egypt, a time and place of dynamic, luxuriant creation in Islamic art.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art identifies it at first quarter 11th century, yet the metallic luster painting of this running hare remains bright with barely any wear.  The exact significance of rabbits in this culture is not precise, but I did find this passage that proposes that rabbits, like mankind, seek to preserve their life. Rabbits do it by running away; humans do it by any means they can devise, including running away, and in that we're in fellowship with our fellow creatures.  Not a bad thing to remember as you dine from your gold-enhanced bowl.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

the mimic dog

Image
public domain This is a "Mimick, or Gethulian-Dog," as recorded by Edward Topsell in his natural history of c. 1600.  It's described as "being apt to imitate all things it seeth, for which cause some have thought that it was conceived by an Ape; but in face sharpe and black like a Hedge-hog, having a short recurved body; very long legs, shaggie hair, and a short tail..."  Apparently in ancient Egypt this sort of dog was taught all manner of tricks.  Whatever breed could this have been? Topsell, Edward, 1572-1625?.  The History of Four-footed Beasts And Serpents...  The whole rev., cor. and inl. with the addition of two useful physical tables, by J[ohn] R[owland] M.D. London: Printed by E. Cotes, for G. Sawbridge [etc.], 1658. p. 127.
Read more

let's dance

Image
found at http://discardingimages.tumblr.com Start your Sunday with this trio of performers and their lovely lightness of foot and paw.  Here's a closeup: This scene is found in the manuscript known as "The Maastricht Hours" on folio 112.  Here's the whole page .  You might also enjoy this blog post on " Medieval Dog Tricks " - I did.
Read more

"the manx cat"

Image
thanks british library flickr From a slim volume of verse privately printed in 1910: (You know what's coming, right?  Bad poetry! ) THE MANX CAT by Marjorie Dyrenforth Poor tailless pussy cat! if I Were only very rich, The very first thing I would buy Would be for you a switch; And where your tail should grow, I'd try The little switch to hitch — oh, my! But what a pretty pussy cat You'd be if I could just do that! -- Dyrenforth, Marjorie. Verses. Chicago, 1910. p. 59.
Read more