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INCENSE BURNER, CAST
BRONZE WITH OPENWORK DECORATION
Syria, Umayyad period, 7th – 8th century
Length 22cm; Ht. 15.7cm
MET-0002-TSR
Cylindrical body rests on three feet which are in the shape of
animal paws and heads on top. The openwork decoration of the body
depicts animals, most likely deer. The opening domical lid is also
decorated in openwork showing human figures, animals and
scrollwork. It is capped by a palmette-shaped finial. A long handle
is attached to the body at right angle; it is also in openwork and
terminates in an animal’s head.
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EWER, CAST BRONZE
Iraq or Iran, 7th or 8th century
Ht. 36.7cm; Top diam. 5.7cm
MET-1393-TSR
The pear-shaped body has an elaborate
collar, waisted neck and opening mouth with a long and pointed
spout; the tall and rolled S-shaped handle has a goat-shaped
thumb-piece on top. There are pearls and series of small squares in
relief around the edges of the mouth, which originally may have had
a lid. It rests on a comparatively tall splayed foot and has a flat
base.
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SMALL CUP WITH
HANDLE
Iran, Khorasan, 9th – 10th
century
Top diam. 13.5cm; Ht. 7cm
MET-1396-TSR
High tin bronze, the handle is made of
ordinary bronze. This handled cup belongs to the interesting group
of metal vessels which were made of high tin, or white bronze, in
Persian sefīd rūy or in Arabic nuhās abyad, an alloy
of copper and zinc. The vessel has a sunken almost completely
flat base, round flaring sides and slightly in-curved rim. The
handle, which is made of ordinary bronze, is in the shape of a
bird’s head. On the exterior, at the centre of the base a cluster of
small, so-called ‘punched-dotted circles form a rosette, while the
edges of the base are marked by a band of similar circles
between double concentric lines. A second such band runs around the
lower part of the side walls, followed by two horizontal bands of
unequal width. The lower one contains larger version of the dotted
circles with addition of smaller ones in between, all grouped in
three. The upper and narrower band is a smaller version of the lower
one. Inside, at the well there is a cluster of dotted circles
forming a small rosette, with several concentric lines around the
edge of the base and the lower part of the cavetto, with connecting
short vertical strokes.
Remarks
For detailed study of these high tin or
white bronzes, cf. A.S. Melikian-Chirvani, “The White Bronzes of
Early Islamic Iran”, Metropolitan Museum Journal, vol. 9,
1974, pp.123-551; also Simin Lakpour, Sefīd Rūy,
Tehran, 1997. A detailed study of the Tareq Rajab Museum’s high tin
bronzes is in preparation and will be published in the near
future.
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LARGE BOWL
Iran, Khorasan, 10th – 11th
century
Top diam. 26.5cm; Ht. 12cm
MET-0353-TSR
High tin bronze cast, with engraved
decoration. Hemispherical body with inverted, nearly flat rim and
rounded base. The outside is entirely decorated with engraved
designs and punched dotted circles. The decoration is arranged in
four horizontal registers: the top one carries a foliate Kufic
inscription; the second one is decorated with a series of walking
birds; the third one again presents an epigraphic band; the last one
surrounds the base and again displays walking birds, but this band
is broken up by vertical lines, forming seven compartments, each one
with two birds. At the base there is a small star, followed by seven
small starts within roundels, then seven radiating wedge-shaped
compartment, each with a seated in a cross-legged position, crowned
with a three-peaked crown on their heads. There is a floating semi-palmette
in front of their heads. The background all over has punched
circles. Inside the vessel is plain, save the well where there is a
round medallion depicting three walking dogs, their ears forming a
triangle, with small bushes separating them against dotted
background. The inscriptions appear to be benedictory, but with
numerous mistakes.
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LARGE INCENSE BURNER
Afghanistan, probably Ghazni, first
half of the 12th century
Ht. with the dome 39cm; Ht. of the
body 19.7cm; Ht. of the dome with the finial 19.7cm; length of the
handle support 27.8cm; weight 9kg 470grms.
MET-2375-TSR
Bronze, cast in several sections, with
extensive openwork and engraved decoration. It shape, with the
square body and the large domical lid imitates the form
of Buddhist stupas, in particular one stupa in Afghanistan, the
stupa of Ghuldara, some 30km outside Kabul. There is a long handle
attached to it which terminates in the protome of a lion that serves
as its support. The feet are in the shape of animal legs and above
showing the protomes of rabbits. The large domical lid is capped by
the Buddhist emblem of a chatri, an umbrella. On top of
the body at its four corners there are lion heads, mostly imitating
the corner minarets of the Samanid mausoleum at Bukhara. Three sides
of the body are divided into three decorative bands of unequal
width, separated by zigzag lines. The central band carries an
epigraphic band, written in beautiful thuluth style over
scroll ground, executed in openwork. The inscription on each three
sides are interrupted by a round medallion, presenting a seated
figure, who appears to be not a Muslim figure, but a Boddhisattva.
The inscriptions are benedictory and read:
“al-‘izz wa ‘l-iqbāl wa / al-daula wa
‘l-sa’ād[a] / wa al-salāma wa ‘l-sa’ā[da]”
“glory and prosperity / good fortune
and felicity / and peace and felicity”.
The upper narrow band shows series of
connected five-lobed palmettes, while the lower one depicts running
animals. On the fourth side, where the handle is attached, between
the upper band palmettes and the lower one’s running animals, a pair
of wings are formed in relief, as if they were the wings to the
handle supporting lion. The long handle is an irregular octagon in
section, the corner sides being very narrow and carry intertwined
scrolls, forming series of pearl motifs; on top there is a Kufic
inscription, while the two sides again resent running animals. The
Kufic inscription on the top reads: “wa ‘l-birr wa l-baraka wa
‘l-daula…wa ‘l-karāma…wa ‘l-birr” - “…and loyalty and ivine
blessing and power and…Divine favour and loyalty”.
The lid carries a benedictory
inscription in thuluth identical to those on the three sides.
There are also two figures: a Boddhisattva and a Muslim figure
holding a cup.
Published
Géza Fehérvári, “Islamic incense burners and the
influence of Buddhist art”, in Iconography of Islam. Festschrift
in Honour of Professor Robert Hillenbrand, edited by Bernard
O’Kane, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2005.
Comparative Material
There are two similar incense burners known at
present. One of them is in the Freer Gallery in Washington,
inv.no.FGA.52.1, cf. Atil, Chase and Jett, 1985, no.2; Eva Baer,
1983, fig.32, pp.46-7. It was attributed to Egypt and dated to the 9th
century. While the date seems to be correct, the attribution to
Egypt is certainly wrong. The other one is in the State Historical
Museum’s collection in Stockholm, attributed to Iran and a date
suggested: later than 800 AD. Cf. Islam. Art and Culture,
State Historical Museum, Stockholm, 1985, no.1. Ht. 34.5cm; length
ca. 40cm.
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LAMP WITH TWO WICK
HOLES.
Egypt, Fātimid period, 11th
– 12th century
Length 18.5cm; Ht. 7cm; Width 10cm
MET-0252-TSR
Cast bronze with openwork decoration.
Round body, except in front where it is pointed in the middle and is
flanked by two deep and long wick holes; it has vertical sides.
Opposite the wick holes is the handle with a flat rising panel, ring
handle with an attached decorated top, however that is not original.
The top part of the body carries an openwork decoration around the
central filling hole, showing a series of three-lobed palmettes
within heart-shaped motifs; the central lobe is split, which is
typical of the Fātimid period.
Comparative Material
Similar carved decoration is to be seen on a
Fātimid carved wood panel, cf. The Arts of Islam, London,
1976, no.447, p.287, dated to the 12th century. There is
a similarly decorated bronze oil lamp in the Bumiller
collection, cf. Monika Dahncke, 1992, no.BC660, abb. 22 on p.66 and
67. Identified as Iranian and dated to the 9th century.
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CAULDRON
Eastern Iran or Central Asia, 12th
– 13th century
Top diam. 20cm; Ht. 17.2cm
MET-52-TSR
Cast bronze with engraved and copper
inlaid decoration. Spherical body, resting on a tall and splayed
foot, on top everted flat rim to which two hooks are attached to
hold the swing handle. The decoration of the body is divided into
three unequal registers; the middle one is considerably wider than
the two flanking ones. The central one carries circular medallions
alternating with lobed cartouches. All of these are decorated with
engraved sphinxes against scroll ground. The top register is divided
into four elongated panels, each with an epigraphic band, written in
cursive script over scrollwork, The inscriptions are engraved and
read: “al-‘izz wa ‘l-iqbāl wa ‘l-daulat wa / ‘l-‘ināyat wa
‘l-rahmat wa ‘l-dawāmat wa / ‘l-sa’ādat wa ‘l-salāmat wa ‘l-shifā /
at wa ‘l-qanā’at wa ‘l-baqā li-sāhibihi” , “glory, prosperity,
power, success, ease, joy, longevity, good fortune, peace,
influence, satisfaction and continuity to the owner”. Between these
panels there are copper inlaid roundels with leafs. The lowest and
narrowest register carries another benedictory inscription which
repeats the top one. A further inscription in four panels is on the
everted flat rim, but it is written in Kufic style. The
panels are separated by copper inlaid large roundels. The base
carries a series of vertical strokes.
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INCENSE BURNER
Iran, Khorasan, 10th - 11th
century
Ht. 18cm; Top diam. 13.5cm
MET-0175-TSR
Cast bronze with engraved, openwork and
punched decoration. The vessel has a widely opening vase-shaped
globular body, with inverted top, leaving a large circular opening
and rests on a splayed base. Its bottom panel is missing. The lower
part of the body is gadrooned, followed by a wide decorative
register in which intertwined lines form eight large roundels, each
decorated with openwork geometrical scrollwork. Similar designs fill
the areas between the roundels on top and below. A narrow epigraphic
band runs around the shoulder, followed by a series of punched
dots on the rim.
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LAMP-STAND
Iran, late 12th – early 13th
century
Ht. 28.5cm; Top diam. 15cm.
MET-101-TSR
Cast bronze with engraved and silver and
bronze inlaid decoration. It has a six-lobed base, each lobe with
a convex oval dish, then a rising shaft to which one element is
firmly attached to the base, two others are loose, but fixed to each
other; the lower one is faceted. Circular tray with serrated rim on
top and sloping rim. The dishes at the base are decorated with
peacocks against scroll ground. The first shaft shows clusters of
dots inlaid with silver; the second one has lancers and dots
also in silver, while the third shaft once more has clusters of
dots. The sloping sides of the tray has three copper inlaid roundels
and between clusters of dots, below the serrated rim there is a band
of copper inlay. The tray has alternate copper inlaid roundels and
silver clusters of dots and the same type of clusters in the centre.
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JUG WITH LID
Iran, 13th century
Ht. 25cm; Top diam. 9.3cm
MET-1403-TSR
Hammered bronze with silver inlaid and
stamped decoration. Globular body, resting on a low, splayed and
segmented base, short vertical neck with a collar below the neck and
another below the rolled rim. It has a large handle with a bird
sitting on top. The neck carries a silver inlaid epigraphic band
over scrollwork, written in cursive style, reading: “al’-izz wa
‘l-iqbāl wa ‘l-‘ināyat wa ‘l-qanā’at li-sāhibihi”, “glory,
success, custody and satisfaction to the owner”. The domical lid is
segmented and is capped by a rose-bud finial. Each segment is
decorated with a stamped arabesque.
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Ewer
Iran, Khurasan, 12th or early 13th
century
Ht. 28cm
MET-150-TSR
Cast bronze with incised and copper inlaid
decoration. It has a pear-shaped body, tall tapering neck with a
collar below into which a narrow concentric line was inlaid with
copper; on top it terminates in a zoomorphic head and spout, the
opening has a lion-headed small lid. Tall and bent elegant handle is
attached with a palmette-shaped thumb-piece on top which on its
front side has a floral design in a round medallion, while on its
back there is small red glass embedded within several circles. It
rests on a splayed flat base which has a sunken six-lobed rosette.
The incised decoration on the foot has a pseudo-Kufic epigraphic
band, interrupted by several circles. On the body, below the spout
there is a lobed cartouche, outlined with inlaid copper and inside
it depicting a standing peacock against scroll background. There are
two more pseudo-Kufic epigraphic bands running around the body,
interrupted by round medallions with floral patterns. On the lower
part of the intertwined scrolls run around interrupted only by the
lobed medallion. Three vase, or cypress tree designs decorate the
neck.
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Inkwell
Iran, probably Khurasan, late 12th –
early 13th century
Ht. 10.5cm; width 7cm
MET-1276-TSR
Cast
bronze with engraved and copper and silver inlaid decoration.
Cylindrical, slightly upward tapering body with a flat base, a low
flange and wide rim on top. There are traces of three hinges, which
are outlined in copper inlay, but the actual hinges are now missing.
The decoration on the body is divided into three horizontal
registers, which are separated by narrow copper inlaid concentric
lines. The top one presents an undulating silver inlaid scroll over
engraved scroll ground; in the middle register there is a somewhat
naively written benedictory inscription in cursive style, with the
usual phrases, reading: al-‘izz wa ‘l-iqbāl wa ‘l-daulat wa
‘l-dawāmat wa ’l-sa’ādat, “glory, prosperity, power, constancy
and happiness”. The third band is similar to the top one repeating
the undulating scroll design in silver inlay over engraved scroll
ground. The lid has a domical fluted center with a large boss on
top. The low vertical side rim of the lid displays a silver inlaid
undulating scroll over engraved leafy ground. On the flat top part
of the lid the silver inlaid inscription repeats the same
benedictory phrases, except that the last two words are missing. The
base has an engraved undulating scroll design in a narrow band which
runs around. On the lid one hook is still in place and traces of the
other two are visible.
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LARGE EWER
Iran, Khorasan, late 13th
or early 14th century
Ht. 34.5cm; Base diam. 12.2cm
MET-2482-TSR
Cast bronze with engraved and silver
inlaid decoration. It has a spherical lobed body with twenty-three
lobes, stepped slightly sloping shoulder, cylindrical neck with a
high spout in the shape of a bird’s head, tall handle with a
vase-shaped thumb-piece on top, resting on a splayed foot-ring.
Every second lobe on the body is decorated with trellis work,
interrupted by a roundel showing an enlarged version of the
“Solomon’s seal” or what is also known as the “eternal Buddhist
knot”. An undulating engraved scroll decorates the lower part of the
shoulder, interrupted again by small roundels filled by the
simplified version of “Solomon’s seal”. The upper part of the
shoulder carries a silver inlaid pseudo-epigraphic band which seems
to be a version of the so-called “animated script”, imitating
serpents. This band is interrupted by roundels showing silver inlaid
clusters of dots, a trade mark of Khorasan. Scrollwork and
“Solomon’s seals” and two large bosses are one on each side of the
neck. Pair of bosses flank the spout, symbolising the eyes of a
bird.
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LUNCH-BOX
Egypt, late Mamlūk period, late 15th
or early 16th century
Length 30cm; Ht. 18.5cm; Width 19cm
MET-0026-TSR
Tinned copper with extensive engraved
and incised decoration. Oval-shaped with straight sides, slightly
domed pyramidal lid with a finial handle resting on a hexagonal
plate. The incised and engraved decoration on the sides is presented
in three bands. The central one is considerably wider and it has
eight large roundels, each filled by the typical Mamlūk Y –fret
patterns. Between these two roundels in the centre, on both sides,
there are cursive inscriptions, written in Mamlūk naskh style
in two lines over dotted ground. The rest of the sides is filled by
geometrical patterns. The upper and lower narrow bands have
intertwined geometrical interlace, interrupted by small swastika
decorated roundels. The sloping sides of the lid have identical
decoration to the sides of the vessel, but on the flat top, on
either side of the handle there are engraved floral patterns.
Remarks
For a
detailed study of Mamlūk lunch boxes, cf. J.W. Allan, “Later Mamluk
Metalwork. II. A Series of Lunch-boxes”, Oriental Art,
vol.XVII/no. 2, 1971.
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LARGE WINE BOWL
Iran, Safavid period, 16th century
Top diam. 24cm; Ht. 15.5cm
MET-0139-TSR
Hammered and raised copper with engraved and
incised decoration. The wide globular body has a short and waisted
neck, everted rim and rounded base. The upper part of the body is
decorated with a chain motif from which lobed cartouches are hanging
down showing animals and arabesques, while further below there are
lobed medallions with flowers. The neck carries an epigraphic band
written in nasta’liq style, bordered on top by vine scrolls.
Inside there are traces of tin.
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TORCH-STAND, CAST
BRASS WITH ENGRAVED DECORATION.
Iran, Safavid period, 16th
century
Ht. 45cm; Top diam. 12.2cm
MET-1138-TSR
Cast brass with engraved decoration.
Tall, cylindrical and tapering shaft, resting on a slightly splayed
base and ending on top with an everted flat rim. The shaft is
divided into three horizontal parts by two collars, the central one
being much wider. All three parts are decorated with engraved
designs, showing intricate cross-hatchings which at the meeting
points have small circles. Each part on top and below have narrow
bands of undulating scrolls over hatched ground. On the upper part
there are two small hooks attached at opposite sides.
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HUKKA BASE, CAST
STEEL DECORATED WITH SILVER IN THE BIDRI TECHNIQUE
India, Mughal period, 18th
century
MET-119-TSR
Ht. 16cm; Base diam. 15cm
Bell-shaped vessel with sloping
shoulders, tall and funnel-shaped neck with a collar. The entire
surface is decorated with silver and black patterns, showing series
of blossoming trees on the body, floral scrolls on the neck and
around the base, separating them by narrow bands of four-petaled
rosettes.
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EWER, CAST STEEL,
DECORATED WITH GOLD INLAY
India, Mughal period, 17th
century
Ht. 24cm; Top diam. 9.3cm
MET-2557-TSR
Globular body, tall and waisted neck,
everted rim, domical lid, dragon-shaped handle and bent spout. Rich
vegetal and floral gold overlay decoration covers the entire body
and the lid.
Remarks
This
ewer clearly intends to imitate the dragon-handled ewers of the
Timurid period.
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LARGE JEWEL BOX,
CAST STEEL WITH GOLD INLAY
India, Late Mughal period, 19th
century
19x14x12cm
MET-0125-TSR
Rectangular box with an opening lid
which has sloping sides; the serrated edges and the series of lotus
buds are in relief, in the middle there is an openwork design with
pointed centres which may be a crown; two serpent-shaped handles,
sloping lower edges, resting on four bent feet. Gold inlaid floral
sprays cover the entire surface. On top there is an inscription
around the openwork, decoration, reading: “Sazand box Imām Bukhsh
Mistry, resident of Kotli Loharan district Sialkot”. The
inscription is repeated teice around the crown.
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ROSEWATEWR
SPRINKLER, HAMMERED AND REPOUSSÉ DECORATED SILVER
Mughal India, 18th century
Ht. 35cm
MET-2659-TSR
The body is formed by two opposed lion
figures, resting on an oval and lobed base which has lotus palmettes;
a flower-shaped collar acts for the neck which is made-up by two
elephant heads and twisted trunks and terminate in a large
blossoming lotus.
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ROSEWATER SPRINKLER,
HAMMERED AND REPOUSSÉ DECORATED SILVER WITH ARTIFICIAL AMBER
Turkey, 17th – 18th
century
Ht. 30cm; base diam. 7.5cm
MET-2670-TSR
It has a spherical body, rests on a tall
and splayed silver base; the shoulder, the neck and the cover of the
lower part of the neck are made of silver, but the neck and the body
itself are made of amber, which is broken on its lower part. There
is a silver collar on the upper part of the neck and it also
terminates in the shaped of a rose-bud also made of silver.
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