A TINNED COPPER BASIN (TAS)
Jazira, Syria, early 15th century

Of typical compressed globular shape, resting on a flat plain base, with a slightly everted and reinforced rim, on the shoulders a finely engraved decorative and epigraphic band with scrolling motifs, intertwined split palmette meanders, and four cartouches of thuluth calligraphy quoting an Arabic poem celebrating a patron in high office, framed within two knotwork bands and cusped foliated designs, 16.5cm diam. and 11.5cm high.