How Can Museums be Relevant to Society in the Time of Crisis?
With growing concerns during quarantine because of Coronavirus, basic observation is the shortage of toilet paper in Europe and America. But why it did not happen to Asia and its market?
The answer is the ancient tradition of washing rather than using toilet paper. But How? With What?
It makes you wonder if I tell there are many of this specific object is in most of the museums across the globe, that called EWER!
Ewer in Persian is Aftabeh which has an indigenous designation today in Iran. :) So, why don't other people use it?
This suggestion is a solution to the lack of toilet paper that´s part of the crisis in the world. It is a humorous attempt aimed at solving the toilet paper crisis and a bronze suggestion from Iran, belong to 600 BC which today is part of the Minneapolis Museum of Art collection to focus more on questions of relevance and contemporary usefulness.
The hilarious video by Badisches Landensmuseum Karlsruhe with the instruction of Mrs. Sholeh Mostafavi, Curator and Head of the Department of Art and Cultural Heritage made me to write this blog.
Anyway...
We should know how museums can make useful contributions in times of crisis. It is my opinion that as curator we should use our collections to make relevant suggestions for coping with the present crisis and not just talk about their historical context.
The answer is the ancient tradition of washing rather than using toilet paper. But How? With What?
It makes you wonder if I tell there are many of this specific object is in most of the museums across the globe, that called EWER!
Ewer in Persian is Aftabeh which has an indigenous designation today in Iran. :) So, why don't other people use it?
This suggestion is a solution to the lack of toilet paper that´s part of the crisis in the world. It is a humorous attempt aimed at solving the toilet paper crisis and a bronze suggestion from Iran, belong to 600 BC which today is part of the Minneapolis Museum of Art collection to focus more on questions of relevance and contemporary usefulness.
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| Picture of Shole Mostafavi Curator of World Culture and Head of the Department of Art and Cultural History of Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhee who made a video about Aftabe (ewer) Lurestan Bronze Ewer, Iran, 600 BC, Minneapolis Museum of Art |
Anyway...
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| Bronze Ewer, Luristan, Iran 600 BC Minneapolis Museum of Art, Minnesota, United States |
Let's get back to the ewer.
There are other ewers (Aftabeh) from more museums:
Ewers have different shapes and kinds for different uses. Apart from washing for the toilet, it used to before washing hands before and after having a meal.
This complete set is made for the most privileged individuals where the servants or the house attendants offer their services by bringing the washing facilities straight up to the individuals or guests while they are seated and resting in their divan or guest room mainly before and after having a meal.
The set is made with finely engraved 18th century Indian (Mughal Style) brass ewer and basin with removable and adjustable pierced top or lid where the ewer stands on.
Both ewer and basin with lid are overall decorated with bands and scenes of various-shaped cartouches with stylized scrolls of floral and foliate motives.
Very fine and delicate bands of engraved and pierced openwork arabesque motif and palmette designs are decorating the basin lid to allow the water to go through and be accumulated in the basin during the hand washing process.
The washing set is decorated with a row of the oval, lozenge or lobed cartouches, featuring different realistic and mythical scenes, such as a group of young men on the back of a ferocious dragon or monster, mythical genies carrying a howdah with two princesses, large scene of men attacking a dragon or a snake, men mounting a large dragon, a man trying to save another man been attacked by a lion, and various animals such as lions and birds. Other mythical scenes include a lion attacking a huge snake.
There are also various scenes of grotesque and curious depictions of human figures, mythological creatures, monsters, genies (jinns), spirits, and demons.
This complete set is made for the most privileged individuals where the servants or the house attendants offer their services by bringing the washing facilities straight up to the individuals or guests while they are seated and resting in their divan or guest room mainly before and after having a meal.
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| A Magnificent Early Qajar Dynasty Finely Engraved Brass Water Ewer Pitcher And Basin (Aftabeh), Attributed To The Persian Metal Master Baqir Hakkak, Probably Isfahan, Iran, Circa 1800-1850 AD. |
Both ewer and basin with lid are overall decorated with bands and scenes of various-shaped cartouches with stylized scrolls of floral and foliate motives.
Very fine and delicate bands of engraved and pierced openwork arabesque motif and palmette designs are decorating the basin lid to allow the water to go through and be accumulated in the basin during the hand washing process.
The washing set is decorated with a row of the oval, lozenge or lobed cartouches, featuring different realistic and mythical scenes, such as a group of young men on the back of a ferocious dragon or monster, mythical genies carrying a howdah with two princesses, large scene of men attacking a dragon or a snake, men mounting a large dragon, a man trying to save another man been attacked by a lion, and various animals such as lions and birds. Other mythical scenes include a lion attacking a huge snake.
There are also various scenes of grotesque and curious depictions of human figures, mythological creatures, monsters, genies (jinns), spirits, and demons.
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