A near pair of Safavid tinned copper bowls, North West Persia, circa 16th century

both of deep rounded form with flat everted rims, the incised decoration comprised of a band of cursive calligraphy above interlaced cartouches filled with floral and arabesque designs on a hatched ground, one with a further lower band of scrolling foliage, both with ownership inscriptions, one to the rim and one to the base

inscriptions

1) Call to God to bless ‘The Fourteen Innocents’

Owner’s name as: ‘Its owner… ‘Attar’

2) Call to God to bless the Prophet and the twelve Imams.

Owners’ names, one incised and stamped: Fakhr al-Din Ahmad and the other Mirza Jahani

The inscriptions and decoration on this bowl are broadly typical of the region of north-west Persia in the sixteenth century.  Certain features, however, such as the large lotusheads and arabesques blades, have much in common with the rumi and hatayi repertory associated with early Ottoman design. The close stylistic affinities with metalwork produced in the neighbouring Ottoman lands has led to misattributions in the past (see Sotheby's, 11 October 2006, lot 204 footnote).

The form of the present example compares to a bowl in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 91.1.615), signed by the craftsman Ustad al-Imami al-Husayni and dated 942 / A.D. 1535-6, and attributed by Allan to Tabriz (see Thompson and Canby 2003, no.8.7, p.212).