PERSIA, PROBABLY EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A SAFAVID CARVED COCO-DE-MER KASHKUL
Persia, probably early 18th Century
Formed of half the original nut, cusped around the lobed opening, the top with carved scrolling floral decoration around a bird combat group, the sides with a long band containing an elegant continuous naskh inscription, a narrow frieze with floral patterns and a third band with eight inscription cartouches below, the underside with a medallion and pendants with carved decorations of rosettes and palmettes, the small spout carved with the signature and date, a pierced loop for the later suspension chain at each end
9½in. (24cm.) long

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Lot Essay

This unusual kashkul bears the "signature" of a certain Dervish and the date of 1028 (1619-20 AD) on the small spout. The style of script and decoration makes a date at the end of the Safavid period appear to be more likely. The style of script is certainly consistent with a Safavid dating, and the content is not that which is normally encountered on such vessels. The upper band is the nad-i 'Ali together with Arabic prayers; the lower cartouches contain Persian verses partly concerning 'Ali and his two sons.

This is not the only example of a Safavid kashkul: a similar metal example was produced in 1015A.H./1606A.D. by Hajji 'Abbas, probably a member of an armourer's workshop of Isfahan (Allan J., Islamic Metalwork, The Nuhad Es-Said Collection, London, 1982, pp.114-117, no.26). Another undated kashkul with the same signature is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Pope A., A Survey of Persian Art, Oxford, 1938, pl.1393C).

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