A VENETO-SARACENIC SILVER INLAID BRASS EWER

Details

A VENETO-SARACENIC SILVER INLAID BRASS EWER
BY MUHAMMAD, PROBABLY SYRIA, EARLY 16TH CENTURY

With rounded body and trumpet mouth, a trough spout rising from the shoulder and everted at the rim, the domed cover with rounded knop, associated later handle, the body and cover inlaid with silver in interlaced and knotted bands forming various panels containing finely engraved spiralling dense arabesques, divided by minor meandering floral stripes, one cartouche above the spout containing the signature 'the work of al-mu'allim Muhammad', rubbed, considerable loss of silver, body dented and with one old partly repaired split, the handle a crude 19th century replacement
8 3/8in. (21.3cm.) high

Provenance

Edward Falkener circa 1844, thence by descent

Lot Essay

The title 'al-mu'allim', used by the maker, is the same as that used by both the Mamluk maker of the dish in the same collection (lot 188), and that of the Baptistère de St. Louis. This continuing tradition could in a small way further support the claim of Syria to be the place of manufacture of the 'Veneto-Saracenic' group of metalwork.

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