Inkwell
1200-1250 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Circular flat base, tapering walls terminating in a rim that projects over the well. The cover has a low, everted base and a flat shoulder, followed abruptly by a low, broad rib running around the base of the dome. The dome is moulded into 8 lotus-bud-shaped ribs which form a rossette around a central knop.
The knop was engraved with a rossette pattern, now partly erased by wear. The rib around the dome is engraved with a crenellated pattern, divided into three sections, each separated by a roundel enclosing three cursped, whirling lobes.
On the shoulder, the rim, and the everted base of the cover, the same crenellated pattern is divided into six sections with separating six-petalled flowers.
The ribs of the dome have a stalked flower decoration(?).
Finally, the body is divided into four horizontal borders of equal height. Each band is engraved with the creneallated motif divided into nine sections and spaced with six-petalled flowers. Three reserved escutcheons, tear-drop shaped, correspond to the missing attachement plates.
Three lotus-bud legs were cast as one with the body. The underside of the base has engraved decoration featuring a central 12 petalled rossette. Framing this are three lotus buds each centrally adjoined to a bi-focating leaf stem. Three sections of guilloche form the outer border.
A pair of hinges and a plain hasp attach the cover to the body.
Patina: olive brown blackened by dirt.
The knop was engraved with a rossette pattern, now partly erased by wear. The rib around the dome is engraved with a crenellated pattern, divided into three sections, each separated by a roundel enclosing three cursped, whirling lobes.
On the shoulder, the rim, and the everted base of the cover, the same crenellated pattern is divided into six sections with separating six-petalled flowers.
The ribs of the dome have a stalked flower decoration(?).
Finally, the body is divided into four horizontal borders of equal height. Each band is engraved with the creneallated motif divided into nine sections and spaced with six-petalled flowers. Three reserved escutcheons, tear-drop shaped, correspond to the missing attachement plates.
Three lotus-bud legs were cast as one with the body. The underside of the base has engraved decoration featuring a central 12 petalled rossette. Framing this are three lotus buds each centrally adjoined to a bi-focating leaf stem. Three sections of guilloche form the outer border.
A pair of hinges and a plain hasp attach the cover to the body.
Patina: olive brown blackened by dirt.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cast bronze with silver inlay |
| Brief description | Brass and bronze ink pot with a hinged lid, decorated with silver inlay, Iran (probably Khorasan), late 12th to early 13th century. |
| Physical description | Circular flat base, tapering walls terminating in a rim that projects over the well. The cover has a low, everted base and a flat shoulder, followed abruptly by a low, broad rib running around the base of the dome. The dome is moulded into 8 lotus-bud-shaped ribs which form a rossette around a central knop. The knop was engraved with a rossette pattern, now partly erased by wear. The rib around the dome is engraved with a crenellated pattern, divided into three sections, each separated by a roundel enclosing three cursped, whirling lobes. On the shoulder, the rim, and the everted base of the cover, the same crenellated pattern is divided into six sections with separating six-petalled flowers. The ribs of the dome have a stalked flower decoration(?). Finally, the body is divided into four horizontal borders of equal height. Each band is engraved with the creneallated motif divided into nine sections and spaced with six-petalled flowers. Three reserved escutcheons, tear-drop shaped, correspond to the missing attachement plates. Three lotus-bud legs were cast as one with the body. The underside of the base has engraved decoration featuring a central 12 petalled rossette. Framing this are three lotus buds each centrally adjoined to a bi-focating leaf stem. Three sections of guilloche form the outer border. A pair of hinges and a plain hasp attach the cover to the body. Patina: olive brown blackened by dirt. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | INKWELL
Cast bronze with silver inlay
PERSIAN (probably Khorasan); early 13th century(Used until 11/2003) |
| Object history | Purchased for £9 9s 10d from Mirza Sarkis Ayvazoff, 22 November 1902. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1435-1902 |
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| Record created | April 20, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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