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

Of typical compressed globular shape, resting on short straight foot, rising to wide shoulders and a straight cylindrical rim, the engraved decoration on the exterior divided into four overlapping horizontal bands consisting of a heart-shaped palmette frieze around the rim, a band of cusped cartouches, two ownership roundels reading Muhammad Baqi and Muhammad Yusuf and epigraphic inscriptions in nasta'liq calligraphy on the shoulders, the inscriptions poetic verses referring to the tas (bowl) itself and inviting the owner to enjoy the moment and be merry, the body with clusters of cusped medallions filled with split palmette sprays, rosettes and arabesque motifs arranged in vertical order, and a chevron fretwork band on the foot, 24cm diam. and 17.4cm high.