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Inkwell
Mirak Husayn Yazdi - Enlarge image
Inkwell
- Place of origin:
Iran (made)
Tabriz - Date:
1500-1514 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Mirak Husayn Yazdi
- Materials and Techniques:
Brass alloy with engraved decoration and silver inlay
- Museum number:
454:2-1888
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Physical description
Inkwell, cylindrical body with domed lid, originally attached to a pen-case (now lost). Decorated with calligraphic inscriptions of Persian poetry and prayer, and cartouches of cruciform illumination and cloud bands, against background of spiralling foliate scrolls.
Place of Origin
Iran (made)
Tabriz
Date
1500-1514 (made)
Artist/maker
Mirak Husayn Yazdi
Materials and Techniques
Brass alloy with engraved decoration and silver inlay
Marks and inscriptions
Undo the cover of the inkwell of good fortune, Having laid before you the tip of your pen, Your enemy like the inkwell, black-hearted, That the affairs of this world may be resolved
Poem on the lid
May the pen trace the Sultan's commanding word from this inkwell, May it for ever yield the Water of Life out of its black ink
Lower inscription on the body
Nad-e `Ali-yan [...]
Call unto `Ali, He that makes wonders appear, Thou shalt find Him thy help in distress, Every care, every sorrow shall be dispelled, Through Thy Trusteeship, O `Ali, `Ali, `Ali!
Upper inscription on the body
May he be graced with felicity, That companion of the state/good fortune
Central inscriptions on body
`amal Mirak Husayn Yazdi
The work of Mirak Husayn Yazdi
Base of the inkwell
Dimensions
Height: 8 cm, Diameter: 4.7 cm
Descriptive line
Inkwell, cast brass alloy with silver inlay, decorated with illumination and Persian poetry and prayer, signed by Mirak Husayn Yazdi, possibly Tabriz, Safavid Iran, 1500-1514
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Melikian-Chirvani, Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, 8-18th centuries, London, HMSO, 1982, no.119
Collection
Middle East Section