Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The tall animal is standing four square on a rectangular plinth, its head raised and slightly turned to the right, the mouth wide open as if roaring, showing its teeth, the head well modelled with eyes in deep sockets, nostrils and muscles clearly rendered, the small ears laid back. The mane has strands of hair indicated by incised strokes, the fur at the front of the neck is carefully combed to both sides, the upper part of the legs and the top of the humps, which are bent to different sides, have a rough furry texture, and the tail is curled to one side. The eyes and hairy parts are covered with a yellow-tinged transparent glaze, the rest of the animal with a deep amber glaze. An oval blanket on the camel’s back is coloured in dappled sancai (‘three colour’) glazes of green, amber and white, its pleated border in amber and green. It is laden with a thick bag protected on both sides with a large fierce animal mask with prominent eyes, strong nostrils and impressive teeth, covered in green and in dappled sancai glazes. The camel is further carrying a rolled-up amber-yellow piece of cloth or mat, a twisted green strand of silk or another yarn, all secured over long straight planks, their ends sticking out on either side and hung with provisions and utensils. Besides a side of ribs, there is an amber-yellow pilgrim’s bottle, a round-bottomed bowl and a ewer of Sassanian shape, all amber-coloured to represent metalware. The earthenware pottery is of light beige colour, the animal’s body is hollow and open underneath.