Canteen, Syria, 14th century. Molded earthenware, height 31.65 cm. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, The Madina Collection of Islamic Art, gift of Camilla Chandler Frost, M.2002.1.83
Used as water vessels, canteens were functional objects in the Islamic world, especially for travelers. Many canteens were left unglazed to cool the contents through evaporation. Despite its humble appearance and practical function, this canteen is richly decorated with floral and geometric motifs encircling a central medallion.