AN ENGRAVED BRASS CONTAINER WITH BURAQ AND ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY
Possibly Malaysia or Sumatra, South East Asia, late 19th - early 20th century

Of elongated hexagonal shape, resting on short legs, the frame and legs made of copper and engraved with an alternating repeating row of small crescents, the sides in brass finely engraved with elaborate scrollwork, the front bearing the Prophet's quote in Arabic ‘the highest wisdom is the fear of God’ in thuluth script within a lobed cartouche, the opposite side featuring the Prophet’s mythical steed, Buraq, in profile, the corners with the prayer ‘O’ opener - of gates - open for us – the gates – of heaven’ contained in four circles, the sides with mirroring vegetal meanders, the front sides with the bismillah in the shape of a lantern, and praises for the Prophet, the dividing insert of tin painted in grey, sectioned into nine short cubicles, 16.5cm x 29cm, the four short sides 9.5cm wide, the long sides 19.7cm wide.