A silver-inlaid Mamluk brass basin, Egypt or Syria, early 14th century

Ex-private collection, Scotland, by repute acquired in the 19th century

inscriptions:

al-maqarr al-karim al-‘ali a/l-mawlawi al-amiri al-kabiri al-‘a/limi al-‘adili al-ghazi al-muja/hidi al-murabiti al-muthaghiri al-mu’ayyadi al-nasiri al-zahiri al-mushiri al-mudiri a/l-humami al-maliki al-nasiri dama 'izzuhu

'The High Authority, the Honourable, the High, the Lordly, the Great Commander, the Learned, the Just, the Conqueror, the Holly Warrior, the Defender, the Protector of frontiers, the Aided (by God), the Helper, the Protector, the Counsellor, the Administrator, the Valiant, (an officer of) al-Malik al-Nasir, may his glory be everlasting.'

The use of inlaid brass became extremely popular during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, being considered an effective alternative to gold and silver, and was patronised widely by the elite classes. This was particularly so in relation to the Mamluk pieces which, as this example's inscription testifies, appear to "...trumpet the social position of their owner so loudly that the vessels seem intended more as vehicles of propaganda than for pleasure and appreciation" (Ward 1993, p.95).

The traveller Simone Sigoli, who visited Damascus in 1384-85, wrote “They also make a large quantity of basins and ewers of brass, and in truth they look like gold; and then on the said basins and ewers they put figures and leaves, and other subtle work in silver – a most beautiful thing to see” (Simone Sigoli 1843, pp.61-62, quoted in Aga Oglu 1945).

A large bowl with comparable decoration to the present example was sold in these rooms, 30 March 2022, lot 98.