Not on display

Square Tray

Square Tray
1100-1200 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Octagonal dish surrounded by a narrow flat rim and four spandrels. This square edge is in turn framed by a slightly raised platform with a slanting, slightly rounded rim.

At the centre of the dished area, a human-headed bird (the Simorgh) is engraved on a scrolling ground framed by a circular band with four pointed knots marking the cardinal points. The Simorgh wears a three-pointed head-dress and its head is surrounded by the 'halo of glory'. Its flowing tail curves upwards.

The four triangular corners in the spandrels each enclose a single foliate scroll.
The rim is engraved at the corners with lotus-bud-shaped escutcheons and in the centre of each side, elongated cartouches with incurving sides frame inscriptions.

Patina: deep brown with slight red undertones due to oxidation. The surface seems to have been oiled by the excavators and has become newly oxidised as a result of being kept in humid conditions prior to acquisition by the museum.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleSquare Tray (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Stamped bronze plate with engraved decoration.
Brief description
Stamped bronze tray with engraved decoration.
Physical description
Octagonal dish surrounded by a narrow flat rim and four spandrels. This square edge is in turn framed by a slightly raised platform with a slanting, slightly rounded rim.

At the centre of the dished area, a human-headed bird (the Simorgh) is engraved on a scrolling ground framed by a circular band with four pointed knots marking the cardinal points. The Simorgh wears a three-pointed head-dress and its head is surrounded by the 'halo of glory'. Its flowing tail curves upwards.

The four triangular corners in the spandrels each enclose a single foliate scroll.
The rim is engraved at the corners with lotus-bud-shaped escutcheons and in the centre of each side, elongated cartouches with incurving sides frame inscriptions.

Patina: deep brown with slight red undertones due to oxidation. The surface seems to have been oiled by the excavators and has become newly oxidised as a result of being kept in humid conditions prior to acquisition by the museum.
Dimensions
  • Average height: 2.4cm
  • Width: 19cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
(Persian; On the rim - starting on the east side.; engraved)
Translation
Bliss, (divine) grace, good fortune, spiritual perception, spiritual immunity, liberality, A to its owner.
Object history
Purchased for £30 with C.188 - 1951 from S.B Meyer on behalf of Frank Savery, 30 June 1951.

Historical significance: No other example of this type of square tray is on record except for C. 188 - 1951
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
A.S. Melikian-Chirvani, Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, 8th-18th Centuries (London: HMSO, 1982), no.29, pp.99-100.
Collection
Accession number
M.181-1951

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Record createdMarch 18, 2003
Record URL
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