Fountain Basin
1277 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This magnificent basin was made for al-Malik al-Mansur, the governor of Hama in Syria from 1244 to 1284. It may have adorned the courtyard of a mosque he founded. The basin is hemispherical while the inscription band is octagonal. This recalls Islamic architecture, where an octagonal zone often provides the transition between a square hall and circular dome. The carving is delicately done in two levels of relief, which is characteristic of carving in stone, wood and ivory in the early years of the rule of Mamluk sultans in Egypt and Syria, from around 1250 to 1300. There is a plainer area in the decoration where the basin was probably set against a wall.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved marble |
| Brief description | Marble basin from an ablutions fountain, Syria (Hama), dated 1277. |
| Physical description | Carved marble. The Arabic inscription gives the date, as well as the name and titles of the local ruler al-Malik al-Mansur Muhammad (1244-1284) son of Muhammad, son of 'Umar, son of Shahanshah, son of Ayyub. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Glory to our Lord the Sultan, the King, the Victorious, the Wise, Muhammad, son of the Sultan, the King, the Victorious, the Wise, Mahmud, son of Muhammad, son of Umar, son of Shahanshah, son of Ayyub. (In the) year 676' |
| Gallery label |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This magnificent basin was made for al-Malik al-Mansur, the governor of Hama in Syria from 1244 to 1284. It may have adorned the courtyard of a mosque he founded. The basin is hemispherical while the inscription band is octagonal. This recalls Islamic architecture, where an octagonal zone often provides the transition between a square hall and circular dome. The carving is delicately done in two levels of relief, which is characteristic of carving in stone, wood and ivory in the early years of the rule of Mamluk sultans in Egypt and Syria, from around 1250 to 1300. There is a plainer area in the decoration where the basin was probably set against a wall. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 335-1903 |
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| Record created | December 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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