AN INCISED BRASS BASIN WITH COURTLY FIGURES
Possibly Jazira, Iraq or Western Iran, 13th - 14th century

Of conventional deep rounded shape, resting on a plain base, rising to a widely everted rim, the once silver-inlaid interior incised with a central sunburst medallion with eight points, in-filled with six figural roundels with cross-legged seated courtly subjects playing musical instruments, holding a cup and a circular item, possibly a mirror, usually interpreted as astronomical symbols associated with the planets and Zodiac signs, surrounded by two concentric circles of roundels with similar figures, the rim embellished with a dense Arabic thuluth epigraphic band interspersed amidst eight figural roundels repeating the planetary symbols, set against a foliate ground, rosette and strapwork bands on the outer border, 36cm diam. and 10.5cm high.