- 230
A rare Mamluk engraved brass basin from the reign of Sultan Qaytbay (1468-96), Egypt, late 15th century
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- brass
the rounded, slightly convex body with faceted sides leading to a hammered lower ridge, the central band with alternating cartouches containing calligraphic inscriptions and entwined split-arabesques between bands of foliate designs, the underside hammered with s-shaped grooves containing vegetal and abstrac patterns, featuring heraldic blazons to sides, centre of interior and underside
Condition
In fair condition, some oxidisation particularly visible to interior with some encrustation, three minor cracks to centre of base, discoloration, old restorations and rubbing, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
Repetition of: ‘The High authority, the Lordly, the Great Amir’.
Later owner’s name, possibly Yar Baba.
This bowl, and the previous lot, display features typical of late fifteenth-century Mamluk metalwork production. The division into compartments, sometimes filled with inscriptions and sometimes with purely decorative motifs, is a recurrent trope of Royal Mamluk metalwork and Veneto-Saracenic metalwork. A basin dedicated to Qaytbay in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, a basin dedicated to Nasir al-Din Sidi Muhammad, son of Saif al-Din Uzbak, Atabek of Qaytbay, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv.no. 206. 1892), (Melikian-Chirvani 1969, p.118, fig.16), a Veneto-Saracenic bowl in the Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan (inv. no. 1657) (Melikian-Chirvani 1969, p.101, fig.1), and a bowl formerly in the M.C. collection (Melikian-Chirvani 1969, p.127 fig.29, current location unknown) all exhibit this feature.
It seems that many basins and bowls produced during this late flowering of Mamluk metalwork were made as if to be displayed by showing their bottom facing upwards. The commonly-seen radial swirls end in a reverse apex at the bottom, as witnessed in the two bowls here. Similar treatment is found on a variety of bowls, for example on the Qaytbay bowl in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. 1325–1856) and on the Veneto-Saracenic bowl by Zayn al-din Ibn Zanbu‘ah in the Khalili Collection (MTW 527, Behrens-Abouseif 2005, p.168, fig.13). Another recurrent feature of this period is the density of decoration, characteristic of production under Qaytbay. The present bowl also displays the composite floral detail comprising three oval petals from which three fleurons emerge, a design motif classified by Melikian-Chirvani as 'the signature of the period'.
We are grateful to Dr Sami de Giosa for his assistance in cataloguing these two lots.
Repetition of: ‘The High authority, the Lordly, the Great Amir’.
Later owner’s name, possibly Yar Baba.
This bowl, and the previous lot, display features typical of late fifteenth-century Mamluk metalwork production. The division into compartments, sometimes filled with inscriptions and sometimes with purely decorative motifs, is a recurrent trope of Royal Mamluk metalwork and Veneto-Saracenic metalwork. A basin dedicated to Qaytbay in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, a basin dedicated to Nasir al-Din Sidi Muhammad, son of Saif al-Din Uzbak, Atabek of Qaytbay, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv.no. 206. 1892), (Melikian-Chirvani 1969, p.118, fig.16), a Veneto-Saracenic bowl in the Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan (inv. no. 1657) (Melikian-Chirvani 1969, p.101, fig.1), and a bowl formerly in the M.C. collection (Melikian-Chirvani 1969, p.127 fig.29, current location unknown) all exhibit this feature.
It seems that many basins and bowls produced during this late flowering of Mamluk metalwork were made as if to be displayed by showing their bottom facing upwards. The commonly-seen radial swirls end in a reverse apex at the bottom, as witnessed in the two bowls here. Similar treatment is found on a variety of bowls, for example on the Qaytbay bowl in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. 1325–1856) and on the Veneto-Saracenic bowl by Zayn al-din Ibn Zanbu‘ah in the Khalili Collection (MTW 527, Behrens-Abouseif 2005, p.168, fig.13). Another recurrent feature of this period is the density of decoration, characteristic of production under Qaytbay. The present bowl also displays the composite floral detail comprising three oval petals from which three fleurons emerge, a design motif classified by Melikian-Chirvani as 'the signature of the period'.
We are grateful to Dr Sami de Giosa for his assistance in cataloguing these two lots.