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

Bowl

Footed Bowl
1200-1300 (cast)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Broad spreading foot rising to a narrow section then opening out to give rise to a bowl with high, wide rounded sides.
An epigraphic band framed by two silver fillets runs around the rim.
Below, are three rows of roundels with interlacing fillets. The roundels each enclose one of three designs framed by a pearl border, a central six-petalled rossette, a swatika-type motif or an X motif with a circular node.
The spaces between the roundels are filled with square knot patterns.
Around the base, thirty-six silver-inlaid lotus blossoms, their incised fames interlacing, point downwards.
The foot is encircled with an epigraphic band framed by two fillets.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleBowl
Materials and techniques
Bell-metal, cast and turned. Engraved with champlevé designs and partly inlaid with silver.
Brief description
Footed bowl, cast brass, engraved decoration and traces of silver inlay, inscriptions around the rim and foot, Iran, 1200-1300
Physical description
Broad spreading foot rising to a narrow section then opening out to give rise to a bowl with high, wide rounded sides.
An epigraphic band framed by two silver fillets runs around the rim.
Below, are three rows of roundels with interlacing fillets. The roundels each enclose one of three designs framed by a pearl border, a central six-petalled rossette, a swatika-type motif or an X motif with a circular node.
The spaces between the roundels are filled with square knot patterns.
Around the base, thirty-six silver-inlaid lotus blossoms, their incised fames interlacing, point downwards.
The foot is encircled with an epigraphic band framed by two fillets.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.2cm (maximum)
  • Body diameter: 17.6cm (maximum)
  • Of opening diameter: 16.7 - 17.1cm
  • Of foot diameter: 8.85 - 8.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • (Persian; thuluth; upper inscription; engraved)
    Translation
    Might! Might and riches, laudation and praise, godliness and beneficence, open-handedness and generosity, forbearance and reserve, science and fidelity, might, A-L-A, and riches, f[inis] (?) and praise and A
  • (thuluth; lower inscription)
    Translation
    Might! A! A-L-A! A! Annihilation [of contingency] perpetually. Might! A! A! L-A! perpetually! Lasting life perpetually
Object history
Purchased for £850 from J. Banach-Bennett, 16 July 1968.
Inter-departmental transfer to MES, RF 2011/1170.
Historical context
According to A.S. Melikian-Chirvani this is the earliest Islamic example on record of a type that goes back to the protohistorical period.
Bibliographic reference
Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, London:HMSO, 1982, p162-164, ISBN 0 11 290252 9
Collection
Accession number
M.28-1968

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Record createdMarch 18, 2003
Record URL
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