Kashkul (Dervish’s Bowl)
1735 (made)
| Place of origin |
The beggar's bowl or ‘kashkul’ was a sign of the religious poverty assumed by Islamic mystics. This function is reflected in the inscriptions used. On this ‘kashkul’ they include verses from the Qur'an as well as poetry in Persian praising the ‘kashkul’ in mystical terms.
This bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran.
The shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel.
This bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran.
The shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Coco de mer; carved |
| Brief description | Kashkul or dervish's bowl, carved coco de mer, Iran, Qajar period, dated 1148H./1735 |
| Physical description | Formed of half a double cocoa nut, carved, in low relief, with a horizontal registers of foliated designs alternating with devotional inscriptions. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | The beggar's bowl or ‘kashkul’ was a sign of the religious poverty assumed by Islamic mystics. This function is reflected in the inscriptions used. On this ‘kashkul’ they include verses from the Qur'an as well as poetry in Persian praising the ‘kashkul’ in mystical terms. This bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran. The shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.498-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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