A rare painted wooden cylindrical box, Yemen, 18/19th century
Auction Closed
October 25, 04:59 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A rare painted wooden cylindrical box, Yemen, 18/19th century
of cylindrical form, decorated with red, yellow and green lacquer with a broad central band of interlaced lobed cartouches enclosing floral motifs, a band of inscriptions in Kufic above and below, the lower band divided by roundels containing alternating rosettes, the base plain
0
33.3cm. height
27.4cm. diam.
inscriptions:
Arabic verses, including a couplet attributed to Imam Shafi'i:
wa-ma akthar al-ikhwan hina ta‘adduhum
wa-lakinnahum fi al-na‘ibat qalil
‘However, many friends you may count,
They are few in times of trouble.’
This delightful box relates to a group of Yemeni cylindrical woodwork covered in polychrome layers of lacquer (see an example sold in Christie's London, 17 October 1995, 269). These bright designs are reminiscent of Mamluk metalwork and manuscript illumination.
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