A KHORASSAN SILVER AND COPPER INLAID BRONZE JUG

NORTH EAST PERSIA, LATE 12TH CENTURY

Details

A KHORASSAN SILVER AND COPPER INLAID BRONZE JUG
NORTH EAST PERSIA, LATE 12TH CENTURY
Of faceted baluster form with cylindrical neck and spreading foot, the cover with elegant lobes rising to a bird finial, the sides inlaid with stylised vases issuing tendrils alternating with roundels containing arabesque interlace and similar arched panels, a band of inlaid naskh benedictory inscription below and similar kufic band above, the neck with a further band of naskh between raised plain stripes, a further band of kufic around the foot, the underside of the foot finely engraved with a harpie, the cover lobes each with a delicate arrangement of interlaced arabesques, a band of engraved kufic calligraphy on the handle, slight surface oxidation, inlay very well preserved
10¾in. (27.2cm.) high

Lot Essay

The inscription around the neck reads: al-'izz w'al-iqbal wal-dawla w'al-salama w'al-sa'ada w'al-tamma w'al-tayyid w'al-'inayat w'al-baqa da'ima li-sahibihi (glory, prosperity, wealth, peace, happiness, completeness, divine aid, providence and perpetual longevity to the owner)
Around the shoulder: b'il-yumn w'al-baraka w'al- dawla w'al-tamma w'al-'afiyah w'al-'inayat w'al-baqa da'ima (with good fortune, blessing, wealth, completeness, good health, providence and perpetual longevity)

below the midriff: al-'izz w'al-iqbal w'al-dawla w'al-salama w'al-raha w'al-sa'ada w'al-tamma w'al-tayyid w'al-......... w'al-shafa'a w'al-qana'a w'al-shukr w'al-baqa li-sahibihi (glory, prosperity, wealth, peace, quietude, happiness, completeness, divine aid, ............, cure (from ills), contentment, gratitude and longevity to the owner).

Many jugs of this form have been published, but none of the same quality of workmanship and wealth of detail as the present example. The scrolling arabesques on the rounded panels on the cover in particular are superb illlustrations of the Khorassan school at its most fluent.

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