Not currently on display at the V&A

Inkwell

1500-1514 (made)
Artist/Maker
Mirak Husayn Yazdi
Place of origin
Iran (made)
Tabriz

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.


Object details

Category
Metalwork
Object type
Inkwell
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Lid
  • Inkwell
Materials and techniques
Brass alloy with engraved decoration and silver inlay
Brief description
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
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.
Styles
Safavid
Islamic
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Poem on the lid)
    Translation
    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
  • (Lower inscription on the body)
    Translation
    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
  • Nad-e `Ali-yan [...] (Upper inscription on the body)
    Translation
    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!
  • (Central inscriptions on body)
    Translation
    May he be graced with felicity, That companion of the state/good fortune
  • `amal Mirak Husayn Yazdi (Base of the inkwell)
    Translation
    The work of Mirak Husayn Yazdi
Association
Sidney Churchill
Bibliographic reference
Melikian-Chirvani, Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, 8-18th centuries, London, HMSO, 1982, no.119
Collection
Middle East Section
Accession number
454:2-1888

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Record createdJune 11, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O100776/inkwell-mirak-husayn-yazdi/
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