- 235
A Nasrid or post-Nasrid inscribed gilt-copper vessel, Spain or North Africa, 14th-16th century
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- gilt copper
of octagonal form with gilt-copper incised design featuring lobed archways containing alternating calligraphic inscriptions or split-arabesque motifs with mounts and hooks, on a hatched ground, with an inscriptive band above and entwined palmettes below
Condition
The interior with oxidisation and encrustation and residues of adhesive, possibly from earlier inner-lining, the exterior rubbed with some losses to gilding, notably to edges of each side and loops for hooking, scratches to surface and very minor knicks, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
INSCRIPTIONS
In the upper band:
'Glory belongs to God, dominion belongs to God. Constant might and good health. God … in every thing. Constant might...'
On four sides of the body:
'Glory belongs to God. Praise be to God… Dominion belongs to God… Dominion belongs to God alone.'
Small inscription on the side undeciphered.
Nasrid metalwork is extremely rare as only six other recorded examples are known. These include: a bucket in the Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Madrid; a covered vessel in the Treasury of the Church of San Marco, Rome; a lidded box in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan; an inkwell formerly in the Homaizi Collection, Kuwait; a goblet (the only known signed example) sold in these rooms, 8 October 2008, lot 98; and a pyxis, another recent discovery also sold in these rooms, 8 October 2014, lot 92.
The distinctive straight-walled polygonal shape of the present example, a form which ultimately derives from the Roman tradition (compare with a Roman enamelled copper hexagonal pyxis in the British Museum), can be compared to a couple of the metal examples cited above. These pieces, which share stylistic attributes either in shape, design or inscription, appear to derive from ivory models (for example a pyxis in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan, Madrid (inv. no.4876), Granada 2014, p.193, cat. no.158). The pyxis sold in these rooms was also octagonal with suspension loops around the body and its original lid, a component unfortunately lost in this example. Another lidded box, in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan (inv. no. 3075), also features eight vertical walls and a flat cover, with an additional hinged aperture fitted at the centre of the cover probably to be used as an inkwell. In addition, the Don Juan box is inscribed: dawat al-'izza ('inkwell of glory') and tharour Allah ('the necessity of God'), with an undecipherable number, possibly a date (Granada 2014, p.206, no.197). The loops and suspension rings speak of the portable nature of these objects which were possibly used as accoutrements for a scholar, scribe or person of high rank to be carried when travelling.
From a stylistic viewpoint, this pyxis can be compared to the bucket in the Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Madrid (inv. no.50.888), in which the curving inscriptions are set within lobed medallions, interspersed with entwining split-palmettes against a hatched ground as in the present work (see New York 1992, pp.280-1, no.59). The inscriptions on the present example refer to the 'Dominion of God' and 'Glory of God', in a formulaic quality that is associated with the Nasrid dynasty. These are characterised by their curvilinear form, narrowing at the base and expanding towards the tips. Resembling the ripples of water, this style of writing appears on manuscripts, ceramics and particularly textiles of the period. Silk textiles made in al-Andalus for sumptuous attire and costly furnishings were among the luxury commodities sought after by the Muslim and Christian elites on the Iberian Peninsula and far beyond its borders. Such textiles took on new lives as they were often later cut and reused for purposes such as ecclesiastic vestments. It is possible that the artisan responsible for these inscriptions, which cannot be read with ease, was looking at a textile fragment or even a military banner (for example, ‘Las Navas de Tolosa Baner’ from the Almohad period (1212-50 AD), now in the Museo de Tela Medievales, Monasterio de Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, Burgos, inv. no. 00652193 (New York 1992, pp.326-7, no.92).
In the upper band:
'Glory belongs to God, dominion belongs to God. Constant might and good health. God … in every thing. Constant might...'
On four sides of the body:
'Glory belongs to God. Praise be to God… Dominion belongs to God… Dominion belongs to God alone.'
Small inscription on the side undeciphered.
Nasrid metalwork is extremely rare as only six other recorded examples are known. These include: a bucket in the Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Madrid; a covered vessel in the Treasury of the Church of San Marco, Rome; a lidded box in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan; an inkwell formerly in the Homaizi Collection, Kuwait; a goblet (the only known signed example) sold in these rooms, 8 October 2008, lot 98; and a pyxis, another recent discovery also sold in these rooms, 8 October 2014, lot 92.
The distinctive straight-walled polygonal shape of the present example, a form which ultimately derives from the Roman tradition (compare with a Roman enamelled copper hexagonal pyxis in the British Museum), can be compared to a couple of the metal examples cited above. These pieces, which share stylistic attributes either in shape, design or inscription, appear to derive from ivory models (for example a pyxis in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan, Madrid (inv. no.4876), Granada 2014, p.193, cat. no.158). The pyxis sold in these rooms was also octagonal with suspension loops around the body and its original lid, a component unfortunately lost in this example. Another lidded box, in the Instituto Valencia de Don Juan (inv. no. 3075), also features eight vertical walls and a flat cover, with an additional hinged aperture fitted at the centre of the cover probably to be used as an inkwell. In addition, the Don Juan box is inscribed: dawat al-'izza ('inkwell of glory') and tharour Allah ('the necessity of God'), with an undecipherable number, possibly a date (Granada 2014, p.206, no.197). The loops and suspension rings speak of the portable nature of these objects which were possibly used as accoutrements for a scholar, scribe or person of high rank to be carried when travelling.
From a stylistic viewpoint, this pyxis can be compared to the bucket in the Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Madrid (inv. no.50.888), in which the curving inscriptions are set within lobed medallions, interspersed with entwining split-palmettes against a hatched ground as in the present work (see New York 1992, pp.280-1, no.59). The inscriptions on the present example refer to the 'Dominion of God' and 'Glory of God', in a formulaic quality that is associated with the Nasrid dynasty. These are characterised by their curvilinear form, narrowing at the base and expanding towards the tips. Resembling the ripples of water, this style of writing appears on manuscripts, ceramics and particularly textiles of the period. Silk textiles made in al-Andalus for sumptuous attire and costly furnishings were among the luxury commodities sought after by the Muslim and Christian elites on the Iberian Peninsula and far beyond its borders. Such textiles took on new lives as they were often later cut and reused for purposes such as ecclesiastic vestments. It is possible that the artisan responsible for these inscriptions, which cannot be read with ease, was looking at a textile fragment or even a military banner (for example, ‘Las Navas de Tolosa Baner’ from the Almohad period (1212-50 AD), now in the Museo de Tela Medievales, Monasterio de Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas, Burgos, inv. no. 00652193 (New York 1992, pp.326-7, no.92).