3rd Nov, 2021 11:00

A Middle Eastern Journey

 
  Lot 623
 

A ZAND-STYLE SILVER-INLAID BRASS EWER MADE FOR THE IRANIAN MARKET
Possibly Damascus, Syria, late 19th century

A ZAND-STYLE SILVER-INLAID BRASS EWER MADE FOR THE IRANIAN MARKET
Possibly Damascus, Syria, late 19th century

Of typical compressed globular shape, resting on a splayed conical foot, rising to a tall everted neck surmounted by an openwork dome-shaped lid with a bird-shaped finial, with a curved handle and spout to the sides, the exterior inlaid in silver and fully engraved in Zand-style motifs including oval medallions with mythical creatures, demons, dancers and men in a variety of poses; calligraphic cartouches with bold nasta'liq script inscriptions; decorative bands of scrolling split palmettes and knotwork; all decoration against a background of stylised vegetal patterns, the patterns Iranian in essence, the shape of the ewer of Middle Eastern origin, 52.5cm high.

This ewer is an interesting example that testifies the spread of certain Islamic patterns and decorative motifs across the Middle East, without necessarily becoming popular for the export market to the West. In 18th-century Iran, Zand metals, mostly made of brass and bronze, were known to be engraved with whimsical figures comprising demons, divs, mythological monsters, dancers, kings, riders, and many more unusual characters. They were usually gathered within oval cartouches and often accompanied by bold nasta'liq inscriptions, as the present example shows. However, the engraving of our lot doesn't show the quality and draughtsmanship of Iranian models, leading to suggest that the craftsman who produced this may have been working from a copy and was probably not well acquainted with this pattern. The shape of the ewer and the presence of bands of knotwork, a typical Mamluk-revival feature, suggest a site of production linked to Middle Eastern territories, most likely Syria or Egypt, rather than Iran.

Sold for £200

Includes Buyer's Premium


 

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