Basin
1250-1350 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This interior of this basin features a row of medallions showing various humans and animals. The medallions are set between two bands of Arabic inscriptions. In the centre is a large scene depicting people in a boat.
The decoration is in a style that developed during the first century of Mamluk rule in Egypt and Syria (1250–1350). This was when the sultanate was at the height of its power. The secular decoration on objects like this shows that they were made for palaces rather than religious buildings.
At first, scenes with human figures were common. These disappeared after 1300, and elegant inscriptions in Arabic became more prominent. The texts all name the patron or glorify the sultan.
The decoration is in a style that developed during the first century of Mamluk rule in Egypt and Syria (1250–1350). This was when the sultanate was at the height of its power. The secular decoration on objects like this shows that they were made for palaces rather than religious buildings.
At first, scenes with human figures were common. These disappeared after 1300, and elegant inscriptions in Arabic became more prominent. The texts all name the patron or glorify the sultan.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Hammered bronze inlaid with silver |
| Brief description | Basin with a boating scene, Egypt or Syria, about 1250-1350. |
| Physical description | Bronze basin hammered and inlaid with silver. Thuluth inscription on both exterior and interior placed against a floral arabesque. Exterior and interior also feature roundels containing animals. Large central medallion depicts a boat with figures hunting and fishing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Jameel Gallery
Basin with Boating Scene
Egypt or Syria
1250-1350
This basin is decorated in a similar manner to that on the left, but the ornament was organised in a different manner. A row of medallions on the interior, showing various humans and animals, is set between two bands of Arabic inscriptions. In the centre is a large scene depicting people in a boat.
Brass inlaid with silver and a black composition
Museum no. 2734-1856(Jameel Gallery) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Quran |
| Summary | This interior of this basin features a row of medallions showing various humans and animals. The medallions are set between two bands of Arabic inscriptions. In the centre is a large scene depicting people in a boat. The decoration is in a style that developed during the first century of Mamluk rule in Egypt and Syria (1250–1350). This was when the sultanate was at the height of its power. The secular decoration on objects like this shows that they were made for palaces rather than religious buildings. At first, scenes with human figures were common. These disappeared after 1300, and elegant inscriptions in Arabic became more prominent. The texts all name the patron or glorify the sultan. |
| Bibliographic reference | Stanley Lane-Poole, The Art of the Saracens in Egypt, London, 1886, pp. 216-17. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 2734-1856 |
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| Record created | December 7, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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