By the early thirteenth century, the new approach to the decoration of metalwork was fully developed. Now intricate inlaid designs enliven the entire surface. The motifs on this tray reflect the extensive decorative repertoire of this period, including a central duck‑and‑fish composition, human‑headed harpies in the lobes, and seated figures on the sides. Against a ground of spiraling scrolls, the foliated kufic inscription conveys lengthy benedictions in Arabic to an anonymous owner.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Square Tray with Recessed Medallion
Date:early 13th century
Geography:Found/excavated Iran, Khurasan
Medium:Brass; hammered, engraved, inlaid with silver
Dimensions:H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm) W. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm) L. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)
Classification:Metal
Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1956
Accession Number:56.144
Inscription: Around outer rim in naskh script: Glory, and prosperity, power, well-being, happiness, well-being, favor (?), health, nobility, help, praise, thanks, victory, conquest, stability, sufficiency, protection, ease, completeness, assistance, help, long life to the owner, and mercy upon him
Below base in kufic script: With success, blessing, power, nobility, happiness, health, favor, praise, safety, victory, conquest, completeness....
In the center:
العز و الاقبال و الدولة و السلامة و السعادة و السلامة و العافیة و النعمة و الشکرة و السارة و النصرة و الناصرة و الراحة و العلا Around outer rim:
العز و الاقبال و الدولة و السلا/مة و السعادة و السلامة وا/لنعمة و العافیة و الکرامة و البر/ و العنایة و الشکرة و الشاکرة و الد/ و النصرة و الناصرة و الدوامة والـ/ و الکفاعة (الکفایة) و الشفاعة و التاییـ/ و التامة و التایید و العنایة وا/ لبقا الدائم لصاحبه و النعمة
بالیمن و البرکة و الدو/لة و السعادة و السلامة/ و النعمة و التامة و العافیة / و البرکة و الشکرة وا/ و السالمة و النصرة و الناصرة / و التامة و الشفاعة و / الدوامة و القناعة و الکفا/یة و الشفاعة لصاحبه
(A.Ghouchani, 2010)
The inscriptions also read by Yassir al-Tabba as:
- Top periphery العز و الاقبال و الدوله و السلامه و السعاده و السلامه والنعمه و العافیه و الکرامه و البر و العنایه و الشکره و الشاکره و الد[وله] و النصره و الناصره و الدوامه و الکفایه و الشفاعه و التامه و التایید و العنایه والبقا الدائم لصاحبه و الرحمه
- Top center بالیمن و البرکه و الدوله و السلامه و السعاده و العافیه و النعمه و الشکره و السالمه و النصره و الناصره و العلا التامه
- Sides بالیمن و البرکه و ال/له و السعاده و السلامه/ و النعمه و التامه و العافیه/ و البرکه و الشکره وا/ و االسالمه و النصره و الناصره/ و التامه و الشفاعه و الدوامه و القناعه و الکفا/یه و الشفاعه و الصاحبه
Translation by Yassir al-Tabba (1978):
- Top, periphery: "Glory, prosperity, dominion, security, happiness, security, wealth, good health, dignity, generosity, care, thanfulness, thankers, dominion, victory, victorious, continuance, sufficience, intercession, ... .., support, care, and continous life to its owner and mercy
- Top, center: With auspiciousness, blessing, dominion, safety, happiness, good health, wealth, thankfulness, security, victory, victorious, restfulness, ascension, and perfect
- Sides: With auspiciousness, blessing, dominion, happiness, security, wealth, perfection, good health, blessing, thankfulness, security, victory, victorious, perfection, intercession, continuance, satisfaction, sufficiency, intercession to its owner
Eugene Mutiaux, Paris; [ Heeramaneck Galleries, New York, until 1956; sold to MMA]
New York. The Hagop Kevorkian Special Exhibitions Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Nature of Islamic Ornament Part I: Calligraphy," February 26–June 28, 1998, no catalogue.
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