Plaque

Object Details

• Description

  The plaque is long and broad and bears an openwork decoration consisting of an inscription surrounded by a vine motif. A plain border 8 mm wide forms the edge of the plaque. A small fragment of gilding is present at one end of the border; the gilding was attached by mechanical means and was applied to a surface scored with crosshatching. The crosshatching runs along most of the outer perimeter of the border, extending in a few millimeters from the edge; this feature suggests that the border once had a gilded edge. The front surface is mottled silver and brown color; the back surface is uniformly dark brown.

• Inscriptions

  1. (Massumeh Farhad, 7 July 1997) The inscription reads as follows: "And of him of the military and the proof, that stands by the truth." In Arabic: "...vand al askary va hojatah al qa'em ba."

• Label

  In seventeenth-century Iran, artists used steel not only for arms and armor, but also to create intricate decorative elements. This finely cut plaque is one from a series of ten intended to decorate the entrance of a tomb or commemorative structure. Crisply outlined, the inscription is written in an elegant thuluth script and juxtaposed against a delicate floral scroll. The plaque refers to the twelfth and last imam of Shi'ism, the official religion of Iran, as a warrior and defender of the truth. Known as the Mahdi (Savior), he is believed to return on the day of judgment.

• Provenance

  Kitabchi (died 1976), Iran and Lausanne, Switzerland [1]

  From 1997

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Mrs. Susanne Vallabh, Nyon, Switzerland through Hamid Atighetchi, London, in 1997 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Note 3, Massumeh Farhad, July 7, 1997, in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Kitabchi (died 1976)

  Mrs. Susanne Vallabh

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1610s, 1600s, 1590s, 1650s, 1540s, 1530s, 1640s, 1520s, 1630s, 1510s, 1620s, 1690s, 1580s, 1730s, 1570s, 1680s, 1560s, 1670s, 1550s, 1660s

• Name

  Kitabchi, Vallabh, Susanne

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Piercing, Metal-work

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry