Bowl

Object Details

• Description

  The bowl is hammered and turned brass, chased and inlaid with silver, gold and a black organic material. It is decorated with a wide band of thuluth inscriptions interrupted by four medallions.

  Decorative kufic letters are interspersed in the vertical shafts of the thuluth inscription.

  The four medallions represent a central personage seated on a throne, flanked by two standing attendants who hold maces (?). Blossoms appear under the throne in three medallions whereas a duck is depicted in the fourth scene.

  Gold inlay has been applied to the face, hat, and garments of the prince; it also appears on the faces, hats, and maces of the attendants.

  The bottom of the bowl has a radiating design forming sixteen units filled with floral motifs. The interior is devoid of decoration.

• Origin

  Fars, Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Place

  Fars

• Topic

  Kufic script, Sultan, Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Flowers

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Thuluth script

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)