A Khurasan copper-inlaid brass bucket, PERSIA, 12TH CENTURY

of cast spherical form with everted lip, on a splayed foot, the body bears successive registers of decoration beginning with the lowermost band depicting a scrolling animal motif, followed by a large central frieze with alternating spherical and ellipsoid cartouches containing chiastic bird motifs against a floral background, the uppermost band with trapezoid cartouches of naskhi script separated by circular zoomorphic motifs, a further band of kufic script on the everted rim, surmounted by a stylised cast handle



inscriptions



On the rim in Kufic:

bi'l-yumn / wa al-bara/ka wa al-dawla wa al-kirama wa a /
l-shukr/a wa al-da /wama wa al-kirama wa al-kirama



'With Good-fortune and Blessing and Wealth and Generosity and
Gratitude and Endurance and Generosity and Generosity'



Round the body in cursive:

al-'izz wa al-iqbal wa al-daw/la wa al-sa'ada wa al-sala/ ma wa al-shifa'a wa al-qina'a /  wa al-'inaya wa al-baqa li-sahibihi



'Glory and Prosperity and Wealth and Happiness and Well-being
and [Prophet's] Intercession and Contentment and
[divine] Favour and Long-life to its owner'

areas of pitting and patination, minor dent to rim and small chip to foot ring, minor areas of rubbing and loss to copper inlay, 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."

The item is characteristic of a large group of twelth-century buckets which were derived from the Etruscan situla (Roman for 'bucket'). Whilst the Etruscan original was a simple straight-sided, flat bottomed vessel, its Islamic counterpart became imbued with a more ornate Persian composition, developing a rounded body, flaring foot and decorative friezes. The present piece is closely comparable with the prominent Bobrinsky bucket, and the later Fould bucket, both housed in the Hermitage Museum (see Heaven On Earth, Art From Islamic Lands, Works from the State Hermitage Museum and the Khalili Collection, London, 2004, pp.38-40).