Enrica Medugno
Senior Sale Coordinator
Lot 120W
A large brass tray depicting the prophet Suleyman (Solomon), signed 'Ali Muhammad Shirazi Egypt, dated AH 1300/ AD 1883-4
22 May 2025, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£2,000 - £3,000
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Oliver White
Head of Department
A large brass tray depicting the prophet Suleyman (Solomon), signed 'Ali Muhammad Shirazi
Egypt, dated AH 1300/ AD 1883-4
Egypt, dated AH 1300/ AD 1883-4
of shallow oval form with scalloped rim, profusely engraved and decorated with a central scene depicting the prophet enthroned with courtiers, animals and djins, surrounded by inscription-filled cartouches, roundels containing figures and animals, and further animals, all on a ground of floral interlace, the rim with birds perched amidst floral sprays, two suspension loops to reverse
126.5 cm. long
126.5 cm. long
Footnotes
Inscriptions: to the cartouches of the outer band, couplets from a ghazal of Hafiz, twice dated as 'In the year 1300 (1883-4)' and once in Sha'ban 1300 (June-July 1883); khetam-e in sini be-'ahd-e hazrat khadiv-e a'zam tawfiq pasha be-yadd-e 'ali muhammad shirazi moqim-e mesr, 'Finishing of this tray was during the time of His Excellency, the most great Khediv, Tawfiq Pasha by 'Ali Muhammad Shirazi, resident in Egypt'; to the inner band, couplets from a different ghazal of Hafiz; to the two central cartouches, be-yadd-e 'ali muhammad shairazi moqim-e qaherah mesr/be-tarikh-e shahr-e sha'ban fi sanah 1300, 'By 'Ali Muhammad Shirazi, resident in Cairo Egypt/ the month of Sha'ban in the year 1300 (June-July 1883)'.
Interestingly the present lot was made by a Persian craftsman, Ali Muhammad Shirazi, in Egypt. The tray is signed and dated, with the craftsman's location, Cairo, also noted in the inscription.
According to the Qur'an, the prophet Suleyman was given by God power over the wind, and also over demons, or djinns; he could also speak the language of animals.