AN ENGRAVED COPPER PLATE WITH SPHINX AND FLORIATED KUFIC CALLIGRAPHY
Possibly Khorasan, Eastern Iranian world, 12th - 13th century

Of shallow rounded shape, the body designed as a lobed rosette, resting on a plain, flat base, rising to a wide, stepped rim, the interior decorated with a central circular medallion engraved with a winged sphinx against scrolling vegetal meanders, surrounded by another circular band with wild animals including hares and felines set against further foliate sprays, the rim enhanced with chased drop-shaped patterns and rectangular calligraphic cartouches with foliated Kufic inscriptions interspersed amidst small arabesque roundels, 23.5cm diam.