Large bol aux musiciens, en laiton, Egypte ou Syrie, art mamlouk, première moitié du XIVE siècle

Inscription : al-'izz wal-iqbâl dâ'imâ wa/l-baqâ' laka ayyuhâ al-mawlâ a/l-kabîr al-sha'n anta al-lathi/lâ[yu]d[ânih] al-zamân bithillihi wal-khâ/lî [al-bâl] a lâ ? al-kabîrî al-sha'ni a/l-[mu?]tâ'i al-dâ'imâ fi-a/. The large shape of our basin, with a round base, refers to a similar piece in the Aron Collection (J. Allan 1986, Islamic Metalwork, pp. 88-89, n°10). This latter bowl has also the same ornamental composition : a large band of  inscription on a vegetal ground, divided by roundels, and a lower band of scrolls with downward-pointing slender palmettes. Two other comparable examples sold in our London rooms (8^th October 2008, lot 115 & 119), with a same shape and outside design. The examples above are datable from the early 14^th century. Therefore, our basin can be dated by comparison from the first half of the 14^th century. The swimming fishes refer to their purpose of holding water, they were probably used for ablutions.