Dish thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Dish

Dish
1180 - 1220 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Flat base, low, slanting sides slightly waisted half-way up, and a flat everted rim. Previously a tripod stand, as shown by the marks left by three soldered legs, now missing.
On the rim, six cartouches with double fillets, enclose sections of the epigraphic frieze. These are widely spaced and interspersed by six small roundels, enclosing bifurcating stalks. On the underside, four concentric double fillets have been engraved, one with a sketchy foliate scroll. At the centre is a roundel with a bifurcating stalk - possibly re-engraved at a leter time. On the outer wall are six epigraphic horizontal cartouches with incurving sides and roundels enclosing palmettes. The inner surface has a roundel framed by a broad moulded groove, encloses four hares walking clockwise. Their long ears are depicted so that in each pair the ear of one is also to be seen as the ear of the next hare. Foliate scrolls form the ground.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleDish
Materials and techniques
Cast and turned brass with engraved decoration. Patina: extensive patches of red oxide on the underside indicating the piece was excavated. Otherwise olive patina veering to spotty dark brown. Some traces of black composition possibly added later. Traces of lead soldering, showing legs to have been added and subsequently knocked off.
Brief description
Dish, cast brass, with engraved decoration of interlocking hares, possibly Khurasan, Iran, 1180-1220
Physical description
Flat base, low, slanting sides slightly waisted half-way up, and a flat everted rim. Previously a tripod stand, as shown by the marks left by three soldered legs, now missing.
On the rim, six cartouches with double fillets, enclose sections of the epigraphic frieze. These are widely spaced and interspersed by six small roundels, enclosing bifurcating stalks. On the underside, four concentric double fillets have been engraved, one with a sketchy foliate scroll. At the centre is a roundel with a bifurcating stalk - possibly re-engraved at a leter time. On the outer wall are six epigraphic horizontal cartouches with incurving sides and roundels enclosing palmettes. The inner surface has a roundel framed by a broad moulded groove, encloses four hares walking clockwise. Their long ears are depicted so that in each pair the ear of one is also to be seen as the ear of the next hare. Foliate scrolls form the ground.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3 - 3.1cm
  • Of opening diameter: 18.2cm
  • Of under side diameter: 16.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Persian; rim; engraved)
    Translation
    With bliss, divine grace, good fortune, joy felicity, spiritual integrity and God's blessing
  • (naskhi; on the incurving sides)
    Translation
    Might, auspicious fate, good fortune, spiritual integrity, felicity, prophetic intercession, spiritual immunity, God's blessing and lasting life to its owner
Object history
Purchased for 6s as part of the Jules Richard collection, November 1889.
Inter-departmental transfer to MES, RF 2011/1170.
Historical context
The decoration is typical of Khorasan in layout and detail, as may be seen from comparison with the Ghanzi Museum piece and with a closely related specimen acquired by D'Allemagne in Khorasan.
D'Allemagne, H.R. Du Khorassan au Pays des Backhitaris, op.cit., II, reproduced p.71, bottom right. Note the closely resembling round of four hares walking clockwise.
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World London:HMSO, 1982, p106-107, ISBN 0 11 290252 9
Collection
Accession number
768-1889

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Record createdMarch 18, 2003
Record URL
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