Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets

A Khurasan copper-inlaid cast bronze bucket with the zodiac signs, Persia, 13th century

Auction Closed

March 30, 12:47 PM GMT

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

of bulbous spherical form with flat rim, on a splayed foot, the body with successive registers of decoration: the lowermost band depicting running animals, large central frieze with twelve spherical cartouches containing the zodiac signs against a floral background, identifiable from right to left as Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini (as a crossed-leg figure), Cancer, lion, Virgo (as a seated figure holding two sticks), Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn, the uppermost band with the inscription interspersed by crescent motifs, four cartouches with band of Kufic on the flat rim, surmounted by a stylised cast handle

17.5cm. diam; 19.5cm. height

Please note that there may be restrictions on the import of property of Iranian origin into the USA and some or all member countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Any buyers planning to import property of Iranian origin into any of these countries should satisfy themselves of the relevent import regime. Replica Shoes 's will not assist buyers with the shipment of such items into the USA or the GCC. In addition, FedEx and US courier services will no longer carry Iranian-origin goods to any location. Any shipment services would need to be provided by a Replica Handbags shipping company.

Acquired by the present owner in London in the 1970s.

inscriptions

Around the shoulder in a cursive hand:

al-‘izz wa al-iqbal wa / al-dawlah wa al-sala/mah wa al-sa’adah / wa al-‘afiyah li-sahibih

‘Glory and prosperity and wealth and well-being and happiness and health to its owner’

Around the rim, in Kufic:

bi’l-yumn wa al-barakah / wa al-sa’adah wa / al-salamah wa al-daw/lah wa al-kiramah

‘With good-fortune and blessing and happiness and well-being and wealth and honour’

This vessel, attributed to the region of Khurasan, is characteristic of a large group of twelth-century buckets which were derived from the Etruscan situla (Roman for 'bucket'). Whilst the Etruscan original was a simple straight-sided, flat bottomed vessel, its Islamic counterpart became imbued with a more ornate Persian composition, developing a rounded body, flaring foot and decorative friezes. Usually decorated with successive bands of alternating inscriptions and figural scenes, these pieces are engraved with silver and copper. The so-called Bobrinsky bucket, now in The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, is probably the best-known example (alongside the later Fould bucket, also in the same museum). It bears the date 599 AH/1163 AD and was made in Herat (published in Ward 1993, no.54). A very similar piece, with also three engraved registers including a central one with the zodiacal signs has been attributed to the twelfth century, now in the British Museum, London, inv. no.1958,1013.1. A bucket from the same group, also with medallions containing the signs of the zodiac was sold at Bonhams London, 6 October 2008, lot 174. Another example, with zodiac signs and copper inlay, was offered at Christie’s London, 25 October 2018, lot 35. The lower band with running animals is very close to a band on a tray attributed to the thirteenth century, now in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inv. no.M.31-1954; published in Melikian-Chirvani 1982, p.97, no.27.