A silver-inlaid bronze inkwell and cover, Khurasan, 12th-13th century

of squat cylindrical form, the cover with three suspension loops, a flattened shoulder, central ribbed dome and knop finial, body inlaid with silver with a repeat design of a figure seated between two staffs surmounted by animal heads representing Rahu the ascending node of the moon's orbit, the interior with an arabesque band, the cover inlaid with inscription bands on a scrolling ground, the dome with chain band and palmettes

inscriptions

In cursive:

al-‘izz wa al-iqbal wa al-da[wla] wa al-salama wa al-ni’ma wa al-sa’da wa a

‘Glory and Prosperity and Wealth and Well-being and Grace (of God) and Happiness and’

In Kufic, repetition of:

bi’l-yumn wa al-baraka

‘With Good-fortune and Blessing’

For a similar example, see Ward 1993, p.15, no.6, and Allan 1982, pp.36-39, no.2.