A TINNED COPPER BOWL
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Central Asia or Iran, 17th - 18th century

Of compressed rounded shape, resting on a flattened circular base, with a flared cylindrical neck and everted, reinforced rim, the neck engraved with lobed cartouches filled with dense nasta'liq calligraphy of poetic content and with an ownership cartouche reading Saheb Mir Baqir, all against a hatched ground, interspersed with floral bouquets against cross-hatched ground, the body with bands of scrolling vegetal sprays and cusped arabesque medallions,16.5cm diam. and 14cm high.

The nasta'liq inscriptions include three lines (6 half-lines) of poetry regarding Mashhad and Imam Reza, the Eight Shi'a Imam. It is likely that the bowl was commissioned on purpose by Mir Baqir to be taken around the Saint's shrine and consecrating its content.