A particularly well-worked example of a well-known shape, using a higher proportion of tin in the bronze than is habitual.
For a discussion of Veneto-Saracenic metalwork and its possible origins, see:
Allan, J.: 'Cairo, Damascus or Venice?, Possible Provenences of Mamluk Metalwork, in Metalwork of the Islamic World, the Aron Collection, London 1986 and
Melikian-Chirvani, A.S.: 'Venise, entre l'orient et l'occident', in Bulletin des Etudes Orientales, Paris, 1974