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Lot Essay
The cursive inscription, beginnning with the lower band, reads:
mimma 'umila bi-rasm al-janab al-'ali a , l mawlawi al-amiri al-kabiri al-'a , limi al-'adili al-mujahid[i] al mura , biti al-mathaqiri al-mu'ayyadi al-muzaffari, continuing onto the upper band al-'awni al-dhukhri al-za'imi a , l kafili al-mumahhidi al-sayyidi al-awhadi al-'izzi 'izz al-din aydamur ibn al-zardkash 'azza nasrahu. (One of what was made for his high excellency the Lordly the Great Emir, the Learned the Just, the Holy Warrior, the Defender, the Protector of Frontiers, the one helped (by God), the Triumphant, the Helper, the Treasure House (of excellence, the Commander, the Viceregal, the Administrator, the Masterly, the Masterly, the Unique, the Glorious 'Izz al-Din Aydamur al-zardkash, may his victory be glorious).
Wiet (op.cit) notes that Aydamur Zardkash died in 1312 AD but without further information. L A Mayer gives more clues. He quotes a second 'Izz al-Din Aydamur who was governor of Kerak, appointed viceroy of Syria in 670/1271-2 and who died in 2nd Rabi II 700/15th November 1300. This amir is suggested as the holder of the post of jamdar and had a different blazon. The possibility that both are the same is enhanced by his noting another amir, Qazan, who held the post of jamdar but with the polo stick blazon. The origin of the word Zardkash is unclear. It could derive from the Arabic word zarad (coat of mail) or zard (strangling, or making a coat of mail). If the derivation is Persian, the most probable origin would be from zardkas ([the one with] yellow cup).
The kufic lettering is extremely contorted, of a type more usually found on metal vessels attributed to Siirt and the Jazira. As in those pieces, it is not possible to decipher more than the occasional possible word. The association of the patron with Syria, and battles along the frontiers, specifically indicated by the numerous apposite titles in the central inscription, may have been the reason for this unusual element to be found in such an impressive piece of Mamluk metalwork.
In his listing of the known Mamluk brass tray stands, Wiet notes this as being the earliest surviving complete dateable example. Further examples of the form are given by John Carswell, but the inscriptions are not read (Carswell, John: "An early Ming Porcelain Stand from Damascus", Oriental Art, new series, vol.XII, no.3, pp.176-182, esp.p.180 where eight are illustrated).
mimma 'umila bi-rasm al-janab al-'ali a , l mawlawi al-amiri al-kabiri al-'a , limi al-'adili al-mujahid[i] al mura , biti al-mathaqiri al-mu'ayyadi al-muzaffari, continuing onto the upper band al-'awni al-dhukhri al-za'imi a , l kafili al-mumahhidi al-sayyidi al-awhadi al-'izzi 'izz al-din aydamur ibn al-zardkash 'azza nasrahu. (One of what was made for his high excellency the Lordly the Great Emir, the Learned the Just, the Holy Warrior, the Defender, the Protector of Frontiers, the one helped (by God), the Triumphant, the Helper, the Treasure House (of excellence, the Commander, the Viceregal, the Administrator, the Masterly, the Masterly, the Unique, the Glorious 'Izz al-Din Aydamur al-zardkash, may his victory be glorious).
Wiet (op.cit) notes that Aydamur Zardkash died in 1312 AD but without further information. L A Mayer gives more clues. He quotes a second 'Izz al-Din Aydamur who was governor of Kerak, appointed viceroy of Syria in 670/1271-2 and who died in 2nd Rabi II 700/15th November 1300. This amir is suggested as the holder of the post of jamdar and had a different blazon. The possibility that both are the same is enhanced by his noting another amir, Qazan, who held the post of jamdar but with the polo stick blazon. The origin of the word Zardkash is unclear. It could derive from the Arabic word zarad (coat of mail) or zard (strangling, or making a coat of mail). If the derivation is Persian, the most probable origin would be from zardkas ([the one with] yellow cup).
The kufic lettering is extremely contorted, of a type more usually found on metal vessels attributed to Siirt and the Jazira. As in those pieces, it is not possible to decipher more than the occasional possible word. The association of the patron with Syria, and battles along the frontiers, specifically indicated by the numerous apposite titles in the central inscription, may have been the reason for this unusual element to be found in such an impressive piece of Mamluk metalwork.
In his listing of the known Mamluk brass tray stands, Wiet notes this as being the earliest surviving complete dateable example. Further examples of the form are given by John Carswell, but the inscriptions are not read (Carswell, John: "An early Ming Porcelain Stand from Damascus", Oriental Art, new series, vol.XII, no.3, pp.176-182, esp.p.180 where eight are illustrated).