A silver inlaid bronze cast casket, Khurasan, circa 1200

of rectangular form with hinged coffered lid resting on four shaped feet, decorated in silver inlay and traces of black with roundels enclosing enthroned figures and fighting horsemen against a scrolling ground and bordered by bands of hounds and hares, the lid rim with a band of human-headed calligraphy, the raised centre of the lid with a strapwork roundel centred by bud finial with loop handle

losses to hinges, lock and silver inlay, patination and surface abrasions, 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."

inscriptions

Round the lid:

al-'izz wa al-iqbal / [wa a]l-dawa[la] wa al-shifa['a]/ .... wa al-'afiya wa al-'inaya wa al-da/wala ... / wa al-raha / wa al-'ina[ya?] / wa al-dawama wa al-shukr wa al-shakir

'Glory and Prosperity and turn of Good-fortune and (Prophet's) Intercession .... and Health and (God's) Favour and turn of Good-fortune .... and Ease and (God's) Favour and Endurance and Gratitude and Gratefulness'

 

The enthroned figure is that of Jawzhar who is depicted between dragon-headed staves and flanked by a pair of vases. Jawzhar  is the pseudo-planetary figure responsible for the lunar and solar eclipses. He originates from the Hindu deity Rahu whose attribute is the severed head of a dragon (Hartner 1973, p.121). Hence in Islamic astrology he is depicted with the head of a dragon placed on a stave at either side. Rahu had sipped from the drink bestowing immortality, amrita, against the wishes of the Gods. 
Denounced by the sun and the moon, Vishnu severed his head. But now immortal, his head and body remained to seek vengeance against the sun and moon. Whenever they might, the two parts of Rahu attempt to devour the sun and the moon and thereby cause solar and lunar eclipses, respectively (Hartner 1938, p.131).

The huntsmen are reminiscent of those between the planetary roundels on the cover of the Vaso Vescovali in the British Museum.  The paired huntsmen may have been intended to represent more than princely pursuits by being part of an overall decorative scheme with astrological significance involving the central figure of Jawzhar.

A comparable casket published in Falk Treasures of Islam, Geneva 1985, was sold through these rooms 16 October 1997, lot 6.