Tray Stand

Stand

Only a few stands have survived from the Mamluk period. They were used to support trays or large dishes. This stand may have been made for one of the important amirs of the mamluks. The inscription in thuluth script lists a traditional formula of honoristic titles but no personal name. This stand is made of two truncated cones soldered at their smaller ends by means of a median rounded ring; splayed rims are on the top and the bottom. The surface decoration contains inscriptions against a running pattern of leaf scrolls. The inscription on each cone is interrupted by large medallions of two concentric registers that show identical decoration. The outer registers consist of a symmetrical scroll pattern; the inner register has a symmetrical composition of four ducks set against a palmette design. The two ducks on the top face each other whereas the lower two have their backs turned to each other. The upper surfaces of the splayed rim and of the splayed base are decorated with a band of leaf scrolls.

Abdallah Kahil in [Walker et al. 1994]

Inscription: In Arabic; translation:
Top: Of... His Excellency, the High, the Lord, the King, the Wise
Bottom: The Valiant, the King, the Victorious, the Master, the Just

Translation by Yassir al-Tabba (1978):
Top: The high excellency, the lord, the master, the wise (knowledgeable)
Bottom: The heroic (the servant of) al-Malik al Nasir, the governor, the just, the helper

Corrections by Dr. Abdullah Ghouchani (2008):
Top: Of...His Excellency, the High, al-Mulla....(not completed), the Lord, the Wise
Rim: Protect

Edward C. Moore (American), New York (until d. 1891; bequeathed to MMA)

Mexico City. Colegio de San Ildefonso. "Arte Islámico del Museo Metropolitano de Arte de Nueva York," September 30, 1994–January 8, 1995, no. 84.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Daniel S. Walker, Arturo Ponce Guadián, Sussan Babaie, Stefano Carboni, Aimee Froom, Marie Lukens Swietochowski, Tomoko Masuya, Annie Christine Daskalakis-Matthews, Abdallah Kahli, and Rochelle Kessler. "Colegio de San Ildefonso, Septiembre de 1994–Enero de 1995." In Arte Islámico del Museo Metropolitano de Arte de Nueva York. Mexico City: Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, 1994. no. 84, pp. 212–13, ill. (b/w).