This finely crafted brass charger exemplifies the mastery of Mamluk metalwork, where calligraphy, geometry, and vegetal ornament interlace into a surface of layered meaning. More than a vessel, it served as both a ceremonial object and a proclamation of authority, reflecting the grandeur of the Sultan’s court.
Calligraphic Inscriptions
Inscribed in elegant Thuluth script, the rim bears Qur’anic verses and praises for the Sultan:
Arabic:
"العز لمولانا السلطان المجاهد الملك الغازي نجم الدين"
Transliteration:
al-ʿizz li-mawlānā al-sulṭān al-mujāhid al-malik al-ghāzī Najm al-Dīn.
Translation:
“Glory to our lord, the Sultan al-Mujāhid, the Victorious King, the Conqueror, Najm al-Dīn.”
The inscriptions alternate with ornamental teardrop cartouches, balancing script and ornament across the wide rim.
Artistic Details
- Central Medallion: A radiating sunburst roundel anchors the composition, symbol of divine light and rulership.
- Arabesque Ground: From the medallion outward, dense interlaced vegetal scrolls fill the field, weaving arabesques in perpetual motion.
- Rim Inscriptions: The broad rim carries bold Thuluth calligraphy, interspersed with elongated teardrop motifs filled with tracery.
- Cartouches & Ornament: Calligraphic panels alternate with ornamental cartouches, binding text and pattern into rhythm.
- Surface Glow: The brass surface carries a warm patina, with highlights that catch the light, giving the charger both gravitas and radiance.
Interpretation
Chargers such as this were objects of prestige and devotion, often presented as elite gifts or commissioned as waqf (religious endowments). The interplay of Qur’anic blessing, royal praise, and luminous ornament situates the Sultan at the axis of light and authority. The charger thus embodies both ceremonial grandeur and spiritual symbolism, a statement of rulership and piety in metal.
