A 14th-Century Bronze Ewer in the National Museum of Iran: A Semiotic Analysis via Roland Barthes

This study investigates a 14th-century metal ewer from the National Museum of Iran to understand its role within Ilkhanid artistic and cultural contexts. Applying Roland Barthes’ semiotic framework, this qualitative research analyzes the object’s formal, technical, and decorative features through observation and comparative analysis. The study explores how the ewer transcends its utilitarian function, revealing layers of meaning-ranging from ritual purification and social etiquette to workshop production systems. Findings demonstrate that the ewer serves as a visual document of the Ilkhanid era, representing a synthesis of traditional Iranian metalworking techniques and the evolving symbolic systems of the medieval Islamic period. The analysis highlights the complex interplay between material culture, social representation, and semiotic significance in medieval Islamic art.