Ca. 17th-19th century AD. A tinned copper water vessel with a tap is a stunning example of the exquisite craftsmanship of the Islamic world. Its bi-conical body sits on a splayed foot adorned with intricate openwork decoration and the same decoration repeats on the other end around the flared mouth. The body is flanked by a pair of arched handles riveted on opposite sides, adding to the vessel's functionality and elegance. The unique feature of this vessel is the perpendicular pipe with a tap finial at the bottom edge, designed for easy dispensing of water. The exterior decoration of the vessel is equally impressive. A central register of highly ornamented cartouches containing animals and complex tendril patterns draws the viewer's attention, flanked from above and below by horizontal bands of the calligraphy of blessings and benedictory inscriptions. The top and bottom of the vessel are adorned with symmetrical decorative bands, finely executed with intricate patterns of floral and geometric shapes. The overall effect of this vessel is one of balance and harmony, with every element contributing to a cohesive whole. Vessels with taps like this were an important part of Islamic material culture, serving not only as containers for water but also as vessels for purification and ritual cleansing before prayer. The combination of functionality and beauty in this vessel exemplifies the Islamic aesthetic, which emphasizes the unity of form and function, beauty and utility.Size: L:480mm / W:375mm ; 3.05kgProvenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly in a collection of A. Kotlar, since the 1970s.