Publication Date
742/1341 or 762-4/1361-3
Publication Place
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Subject
Yellow brass inlaid with silver and gold.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
القطر: 78.7 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
420–1854
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus02;16;ar
Library Location
Victoria and Albert Museum
Date
742/1341 or 762-4/1361-3
Notes
A large brass tray with heavy silver inlay, most of which has been lost. The design is composed of circles: the central pattern is in the form of a geometric design composed of a group of intersecting circles, and is linked to three circles that divide the surrounding inscription into equal parts, and within this arrangement more circles appear within the circles. The entire composition serves as a frame for no less than seven inscriptions, the vertical parts of whose letters are arranged in the form of rays within wheels, which gives a striking effect and achieves visual contrast. The largest inscription includes the following phrase: “Glory be to our Lord, the Sultan, the King, the scholar, the just worker, the invader, may his victory be glorified.” The same idea is also reflected in all the inscriptions, even the small circular ornaments that include “Glory to our Lord, the Sultan.” This is a clear use of inscriptions where the text of glorification becomes the main part of the decoration, which is a characteristic of Mamluk art. Although the identity of the object's owner is unclear (see below), an exquisite tray such as this must have been one of the prized decorative objects of the court.
Sample Text
Barry Wood "Tray" in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus02;16;ar
