A massive cast bronze mortar, Persia or possibly eastern Anatolia, 12th century

of cylindrical form with wide flanged base and rim, the faceted sides with flanged bosses and incised decoration, the foot and the rim with inscription bands interrupted by medallions, two high-relief bull's head handles with rings engraved with chain pattern

inscriptions

In cursive:

al-‘izz wa a /l-iqbal wa a / l-dawla / wa al-sa’a [da]

‘Glory and Prosperity and Wealth and Happiness’

In Kufic:

bi’l-yumn / wa al-baraka / wa al-dawala wa / al-surur /

‘With Good-fortune and Blessing and Good turn of Fortune and Joy’

Similar examples are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (see Pope and Ackerman 1938-9, vol. VI, nos. 1280C and 1281).