A KHORASSAN COPPER INLAID BRONZE BUCKET

Details

A KHORASSAN COPPER INLAID BRONZE BUCKET
NORTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1200

Of rounded form with triangular section rim on spreading foot, two lugs rising from the rim to attach the loop handle with lions' heads above the loops, the centre with a succession of faceted bosses, the sides of the bucket with a central band of inlaid panels each with three roundels extremely finely engraved with the signs of the zodiac on a scrolling palmette ground, the panels divided by arched panels containing similar figures of birds, kufic inscription cartouches above each flanked by small copper roundels engraved with the features of lions, a band above with a fine naskh honorific inscription on a spiralling vine ground, the hastae with human heads, interrupted by copper-inlaid crescent roundels, a narrow band below of running animals on a vine ground, the foot with vertical panels, the underside with a band of meandering vine, the rim with panels of kufic benedictory inscription alternating with copper roundels, slight surface corrosion in a few places
6 7/8in. (17.4cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

The naskh inscription around the shoulder reads:
al-'izz w'al-iqbal w'al-dawla w'al-sa'ada w'al-salama w'a[l]-sa[hibihi] (Glory, prosperity, good fortune, happiness, peace and to the owner)
The kufic around the rim:
w'al-baraka w'al-dawla w'al-karama w'al-tamma w'[a]l-sa[hibihi] (and blessing, good fortune, nobility, plentitude and [to] the owner)
The lower band of kufic:
bi'l-yumn w'al-baraka w'al-dawla w'al-surur w'al-karama w'al-shukra w'[a]l-sahiba (with good fortune, blessing, good fortune, joy, nobility, gratitude and to the owner)
The quality of the decoration on this bucket is extremely high. Not only are the signs of the zodiac and the animals below superbly drawn, but the engraver obviously had a sense of humour evidenced in the expressions and the directions of the eyes of the human heads of the main inscription.

More from Islamic

View All