This jar was probably produced for the celebrated Damascene hospital of Nur al-Din Mahmud ibnZangi.

The inscription around the neck says it was made for the hospital ‘of Nuri’ and the ‘fleur de lis’ design was the motif of Nur al-Din.

The other inscriptions read ‘water lily’, suggesting what was contained within the jar, undoubtedly a pharmaceutical compound or preparation of the plant.