A monumental Mamluk brass basin, Egypt or Syria, early 14th century

inscriptions

'The High authority, Lordly, the Great Commander, the Learned, the Diligent, the Just, the holy Warrior, the Defender of the Faith, the Defender, the Protector of frontiers, the one Helped (by God), the Helper, the Supporter, the Sponsor, the Possessor, the Discoverer, the Succour, the Valiant, the Administer, the Treasure house of excellence, the Responsible, (the officer) of al-Malik al-Nasir’

This particular basin is distinctive among other rounded bowls produced by Mamluk metalworkers due to its unusually large size. Bowls of a similar design tend to have been smaller (see Atil 1981, p.96, pl.29) whereas bowls of these proportions have generally differed in style, usually incorporating a wide everted rim (see Ward 1993, p.111, pl.88).

The use of inlaid brass became extremely popular during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, being considered an effective alternative to gold and silver, and was patronised widely by the elite classes. This was particularly so in relation to the Mamluk pieces which, as this example's inscription testifies, appear to "...trumpet the social position of their owner so loudly that the vessels seem intended more as vehicles of propaganda than for pleasure and appreciation." (Ward 1993, p.95). The traveller Simone Sigoli, who visited Damascus in 1384-85, wrote “They also make a large quantity of basins and ewers of brass, and in truth they look like gold; and then on the said basins and ewers they put figures and leaves, and other subtle work in silver – a most beautiful thing to see.” (Simone Sigoli 1843, pp.61-62, quoted in Aga Oglu 1945).

A bowl of a similarly large size, with a nearly identical inscription but with lacking any silver inlay was sold in these rooms, 6 October 2010, lot 180.