POSSIBLY HERAT, KHORASAN, 13TH CENTURY

Details

A KHORASAN SILVER-INLAID BRONZE CASKET
POSSIBLY HERAT, KHORASAN, 13TH CENTURY
The rectangular cast body on four feet with a hinged coffered lid, silver inlaid decoration throughout, three sides of the body, the base and the long sides of the lid with roundels containing an enthroned figure flanked by snakes, further decoration of fighting horseman against a scrolling ground and borders of hounds chasing hares, the base of the lid with a band of calligraphy, centre of the lid with a bud finial and loop handle, losses to the silver throughout, the lid clasp detached and hinges loose
6 ½ x 5 ½ x 4in. (17 x 14 x 10.2cm.)

Provenance

Anon sale, Sotheby's London, 24 October 2007, lot 83

Engraved

Around the lid, al-‘izz wa’l-iqbal / [a]l-dawa[la] wa’l-sa‘a[da] / al-ni‘ma wa’l-‘afiya wa’l-‘inaya wa’l/-[da]wala(?) [wa’]l-ra[hma] / wa’l-raha / wa’l-ghana / wa’l-dawama wa’l-shukr wa’l-shakir[a], ‘Glory and success, turn of good fortune and happiness, (God’s) favour and health and (divine) solicitude and turn of good fortune and mercy and ease and wealth and perpetuity and gratitude and gratefulness.’

Further details

Some countries prohibit or restrict the purchase and/or import of Iranian-origin property. Bidders must familiarise themselves with any laws or shipping restrictions that apply to them before bidding on these lots. For example, the USA prohibits dealings in and import of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” (such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments) without an appropriate licence. Christie’s has a general OFAC licence which, subject to compliance with certain conditions, would enable a buyer to import certain lots of this type of lot into the USA. If you intend to use Christie’s licence, please contact us for further information before you bid

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Roundels containing enthroned figures flanked by snakes are found on a number of examples of metalwork from 13th century Khorasan which are sometimes attributed to Herat. One of the most famous examples is the lid of the Vaso Vescovali in the British Museum (Reg.no. 1950,0725.1). Another comparable example is an inkwell formerly from the Nuhad Es-Said Collection and now in the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha (James Allen, Islamic Metalwork: The Nuhad Es-Said Collection, London, 1982, no.2, pp. 36-39; acc.no. MW.469.2007). On both comparable examples the roundels are set between confronted horsemen like they are here. Writing about the roundels of the Vaso Vescovali, Willy Hartner suggests these represent the demon of the eclipse 'Jawzahr'. He further suggests that the images of hares, found in the borders of the body of the present lot, signify the constellation Hare and relate to the roundels astrologically as powers of darkness ('The Vaso Vescovali in the British Museum: A Study on Islamic Astrological Iconography', Kunst Des Orients, vol.9, 1⁄2, 1973-74, pp. 99-130). To counter these images of darkness our casket bears an inscription of fortune, blessing and good wishes.

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