The shape of this basin, both in metal and glass, was popular in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. From its elegant profile and inscribed titles it is evident that it was made for an important commander of the Mamluk army.
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Title:Basin
Date:first half 14th century
Geography:Attributed to Egypt or Syria
Medium:Brass; engraved and inlaid with silver
Dimensions:H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm) Bottom Diam. 10 1/2 in. (41.5cm) Top Diam. 16 in. (40.6 cm)
Classification:Metal
Credit Line:Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Object Number:91.1.587
Basin
From the Ayyubid and Mamluk times comes a group of basins of varying sizes; many of them have the same cylindrical body and an outsplayed rim like this one. This basin is decorated with an engraved pattern and with inscriptions on the outside as well as on its interior. The decoration consists mainly of inscriptions of good wishes and of honorific titles of the owner whose name is not mentioned, but from the elegance of the basin and from the titles it is evident that it was made for an important general of the Mamluk army. A feature which one would expect to see here (but is missing) is the blazon of the general.
The inscriptions can be translated as follows:
On the exterior: "May glory and prosperity continue and longetivity to you, oh master, to you great in dignity and glory and justice, and eternally high glory."
On the interior: "The high and honorable excellency, the lord, the great prince, the learned, the governor, the conqueror, the fighter for the faith, the defender of the outposts, the surprise attacker, the supported, the treasurer, the helper, the heroic, the lawmaker."
A remarkable feature in the decoration of this basin is the austerity of the ornaments on the exterior. In contrast, the decoration of the interior is dense. In addition to the inscriptions there are six medallions with figures engaged in a variety of pleasure activities such as dancing, playing musical instruments, in addition to the familiar seated female figure of the moon holding a crescent around her face.
Abdallah Kahil in [Walker et al. 1994]
Inscription: In Arabic; translation: - Exterior: May power and prosperity endure and long life to thee, O Master, to thee great in dignity. And glory and renewed good fortune enduring forever for thine eminence, O Master, the excellent and beneficent - Interior: For his High Excellency, our Lord, the Great Emir, the Learned, the Governing, the Vanquisher, the Defender of the Faith, the Warrior at the Frontiers, the Warden of the Marches, the Aided-by-Allah, the Treasure (Supplier of Stores?), the Helper (of the people), the Rescuer, the Distinguished, the Regent (or Director of the Kingdom) (Translation: Hannah McAllister 1947 from L.A. Mayer)
A later translation (source unknown): - Exterior: May glory and prosperity continue and longevity to you, oh master, to you great in dignity and glory and justice, and eternally high glory - Interior: The high and honorable excellency, the lord, the great prince, the learned, the governor, the conqueror, the fighter for the faith, the defender of the outposts, the surprise attacker, the supported, the treasurer, the helper, the heroic, the lawmaker
Translation by Yassir al-Tabba (1978): - Exterior: May glory and prosperity continue and longevity to you o lord, the great and glory, justice and eternally high glory - Interior: The high and honorable excellency, the lord, the great prince, the learned, the governor, the conqueror, the fighter for the faith, the defender of the outposts, the surprise attacker, the supported, the treasurer, the helper, the heroic, the lawmaker...
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. 83.
Aanavi, Don. "Western Islamic Art." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin vol. 27, no. 3 (November 1968). p. 202, ill. (b/w).
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. 83, pp. 210–11, ill. (b/w).
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