Ulugh Beg cup
Type:
Drinking vessels
Date:
ca. 1420–49
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Uzbekistan
Medium:
Jade
Dimensions:
7.3 × 19.5 × 12.4 cm
Description:
The inscriptions on this jade cup speak to its mobility over time: One names the Timurid prince Ulugh Beg Kuragan (1394–1449), who was also a distinguished astronomer and mathematician. A later inscription (on the silver added to repair part of the rim) is written in Ottoman Turkish and reads, "The generosity of God is infinite." The cup's handle, in the form of a hornless dragon, suggests the artisan responsible was inspired by Chinese objects.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
10,
11
Repository and Online Resources:
• See more information about this bowl on the website of the British Museum.
• Listen to a podcast about the Ulugh Beg cup in the BBC series "A History of the World in 100 Objects."
Image Credits:
Jill Caskey
