Publication Date
About 700/1300
Publication Place
-
Victoria and Albert Museum
Subject
Yellow brass inlaid with gold and silver.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 18.5 سم؛ القطر: 42.5 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
740–1898
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus02;20;ar
Library Location
Victoria and Albert Museum
Date
About 700/1300
Notes
A large brass basin with a wide upturned lip and three round legs. The surface of the basin is heavily decorated with inscriptions and pictorial decorations, inlaid with gold and silver, and is unusually very well preserved. The exterior decoration consists of an opposing floral design bordering an inscription band with six sections, including small roundels with ribbon decoration. The inscription above the floral arabesque design states the following: “Glory be to our Lord, the King, the King, the scholar, the just, the Mujahid, Al-Ghazi, Al-Murabit, Al-Mathaghir, the corner of Islam and Muslims, the cave of the weak and the needy, the crown of kings and sultans, the eraser of justice in the worlds, the champion of truth with proofs, and glory and acceptance belong to its owner.” The decoration on the interior of the basin contrasts with the relatively conservative decoration on the exterior, which consists of a lively composition of figurative decorations and roundels featuring galloping knights, seated figures, columns of people carrying weapons, and ducks flying to and from the lively painted inscriptions. It is not known for whom this wonderful basin was made. The inscriptions are ambiguous despite their rich descriptions. While it includes many traditional royal titles, it does not mention a specific ruler or even use the word “sultan,” and the basin appears to have been made for the use of the very wealthy Sydmjul, most likely.
Sample Text
Barry Wood “Basin” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus02;20;ar
