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Basin

Basin

  • Place of origin:

    Egypt (possibly, made)
    Syria (possibly, made)

  • Date:

    1250-1350 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Hammered bronze inlaid with silver

  • Museum number:

    2734-1856

  • Gallery location:

    Islamic Middle East, room 42, case 16

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This interior of this basin features a row of medallions showing various humans and animals. The medallions are set between two bands of Arabic inscriptions. In the centre is a large scene depicting people in a boat.

The decoration is in a style that developed during the first century of Mamluk rule in Egypt and Syria (1250–1350). This was when the sultanate was at the height of its power. The secular decoration on objects like this shows that they were made for palaces rather than religious buildings.

At first, scenes with human figures were common. These disappeared after 1300, and elegant inscriptions in Arabic became more prominent. The texts all name the patron or glorify the sultan.

Physical description

Bronze basin hammered and inlaid with silver. Thuluth inscription on both exterior and interior placed against a floral arabesque. Exterior and interior also feature roundels containing animals. Large central medallion depicts a boat with figures hunting and fishing.

Place of Origin

Egypt (possibly, made)
Syria (possibly, made)

Date

1250-1350 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Hammered bronze inlaid with silver

Dimensions

Height: 20.1 cm, Diameter: 47.9 cm

Descriptive line

Basin with a boating scene, Egypt or Syria, about 1250-1350.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Stanley Lane-Poole, The Art of the Saracens in Egypt, London, 1886, pp. 216-17.
Describes the ornament and states that, "The foregoing is one of the finest pieces of Mosil work in England."

Labels and date

Basin with Boating Scene
Egypt or Syria
1250-1350

This basin is decorated in a similar manner to that on the left, but the ornament was organised in a different manner. A row of medallions on the interior, showing various humans and animals, is set between two bands of Arabic inscriptions. In the centre is a large scene depicting people in a boat.

Brass inlaid with silver and a black composition

Museum no. 2734-1856 [Jameel Gallery]

Materials

Silver; Bronze

Techniques

Inlay; Hammering

Subjects depicted

Fish; Animals; Boat

Categories

Islam; Metalwork

Collection code

MES

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Qr_O107635
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