Publication Date
800/ 1400
Publication Place
-
British Museum
Subject
Brass plate inlaid with silver.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
القطر 55 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1878.12-30.707
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus01;30;ar
Library Location
British Museum
Date
800/ 1400
Notes
A round tray made of brass inlaid with silver, in the middle of which there is a raised part in the form of a decorative frame with eight lobes that includes floral elements and a shield bearing three bull heads. This decorative frame is surrounded by four roundels containing hunting scenes between motifs of lotus flowers and facing phoenixes. The part containing the figurative decorations is surrounded by a geometric frieze, and under the rim there are pairs of ducks within lobed decorative frames. The frieze covering the rim consists of a group of animals in a running position and birds in flight. Metal pieces of this type have been known as “Veneto-Saracenic” since the nineteenth century due to the common belief that they were produced in Venice by Muslim craftsmen, but researchers today believe that these vessels were produced in Syria in a style commensurate with European market. It was most likely manufactured in Damascus, where the coin industry was active during the Mamluk period. The raised part in the middle of the tray indicates that it was used to carry a jug or cup.
Sample Text
Emily Shovelton “Chinese” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;30;ar
