the compressed globular body on a long tapering foot with short neck and associated, hinged brass handle surmounted by an open work palmette, engraved with champlevé designs, the intervals filled with black composition, the body with a band of inscription filled cartouches interspersed by quatrefoil motifs on a ground of scrolling foliate vines, above a further band of inscription filled cartouches interspersed by quatrefoils, below a band of scrolling floral vines and a band containing a series of interlocking palmette motifs, the rim with a frieze of suspended palmettes, the base with a roundel, the handle with two lines of inscription
24.5 cm. diam

Footnotes

Inscriptions: In the cartouches around the body, three Persian couplets, followed by an extra verse and owner's name as: 'Baqi ...' The same Persian couplets are present on a bucket published by A.S. Melikian-Chirvani (Le Bronze Iranien, Paris, 1973, pp.106-7) and dated to circa 1600.

In the cartouches around the shoulder,two of the three Persian couplets seen on the body as well as another two couplets that have not been seen before and due to the wear, not all can be deciphered. The first is the same as the single extra verse on the body.

On the associated handle, two Persian couplets, one by Sa'di and another by Daqiqi seen on pieces in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London published by A.S. Melikian Chirvani (Islamic Metalwork, pl. 110, pp. 251-2 (the first 2 couplets) and pl. 115, pp. 256-7 (the first and last couplet). One of the pieces is dated AH 902/ AD 496-97. Melikian-Chirvani has dated other pieces with similar couplets as late 15th Century.

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- Islamic and Indian Art
- Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art

A Safavid tinned copper Bucket Persia, 17th Century

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Oliver White