Flat Dish

Physical description

Flat base, low, slanting sides slightly waisted half-way up, and a flat everted rim.

On the rim, six cartouches with incurving sides, enclose sections of the epigraphic frieze. These are spaced by six roundels which enclose copper-inlaid moon crescents.

On the flat inner surface of the base, a roundel formed of an impressed groove and an outer fillet, encloses a round of three hares walking clockwise, their long ears joining. They stand out against a foliate ground. Framing the roundel, an epigraphic frieze is broken up into four sections with roundels enclosing copper-inlaid moon crescents in the intervals.

On the sides, six epigraphic cartouches are widely spaced and interpersed with roundels which enclose pairs of leafy stalks.

On the underside, four concentric groups of fillets have been engraved at wide intervals.

Patina: dirty brown allowing olive yellow hue of alloy to come through in some places.

Place of Origin

Khorasan, Iran (made)

Date

12th century (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Brass

Marks and inscriptions

With bliss and L-A!
no longer legible
With bliss and A-L

Dimensions

Height: 2.5 - 3 cm, Diameter: 18 -- cm of opening - where rim completley preserved, Diameter: 16.15 cm of underside

Object history note

Purchased for 18s from Monsieur Jules Richard through Major Robert Murdoch Smith, 22 December 1875

Descriptive line

Cast brass decorated with engraved designs partly inlaid with copper.

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

Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World London:HMSO, 1982, p107, ISBN 0 11 290252 9

Materials

Brass; Copper

Techniques

Cast; Engraved; Inlaid

Subjects depicted

Hares

Categories

Islam

Collection code

MET