This antique copper tray features a dynamic central engraving of a mounted warrior, bow raised high as his horse charges forward with strength and grace. The warrior’s finely detailed attire and powerful steed are framed by scenes of animals beneath their hooves, evoking the imagery of the royal hunt. The flowing lines of the horse’s mane, the tension in the warrior’s bow, and the intricate patterns of his garments capture both energy and elegance, transforming the scene into a celebration of sovereignty in motion.
Encircling the composition are bands of Mamluk calligraphy, their rhythm reinforcing the themes of divine support and royal justice. The outer structure is anchored by a hexagonal border, its six sides filled with precise script, interlaced vines, and floral arabesques. The contrast between sharp geometric edges and fluid ornamentation reflects the eternal balance of strength and refinement, battlefield and beauty, command and harmony.
Calligraphic Inscriptions
The inscriptions glorify the Sultan with a chain of honorifics:
"السلطان الوالي الموالي القائد المظفر العادل العالم"
(al-Sulṭān al-Wālī al-Mawālī al-Qāʾid al-Muẓaffar al-ʿĀdil al-ʿĀlim)
,“The Sultan, the Protector, the Patron, the Victorious Commander, the Just, the Learned.”
The inner band continues with an extended dedication:
"عز لمولانا السلطان الملك الناصر العادل العالم العامل المجاهد المنصور الإمام المتوكل المؤيد الحاكم الناصر الوالي الموالي عز نصره"
Transliteration:
ʿIzz li-mawlānā al-Sulṭān al-Malik al-Nāṣir al-ʿĀdil al-ʿĀlim al-ʿĀmil al-Mujāhid al-Manṣūr al-Imām al-Mutawakkil al-Muʾayyad al-Ḥākim al-Nāṣir al-Wālī al-Mawālī, ʿizza naṣruhu.
Translation:
“Glory to our lord, the Sultan, the Victorious King, the Just, the Learned, the Righteous, the Fighter in God’s cause, the Triumphant, the Imam who trusts in God, the Supported, the Ruler, the Defender, the Protector, the Patron, may his victory be exalted.”
Artistic Details
- Islamic Vines & Arabesques (زخارف نباتية إسلامية – zakhārif nabātiyya islāmiyya): Flowing vegetal designs fill the spaces between script, binding the words with nature’s eternal rhythm.
- Mamluk Style Calligraphy (خط مملوكي – khaṭṭ mamlūkī): Strong, elongated strokes, with decorative “faces” on certain letterforms at the base of the design, reflect both artistry and meaning.
- Symbolic Expression: The lively curves at the bottom of the letters evoke the mood of the people, content and secure under a Sultan who rules with fairness and protection.
Interpretation
This tray immortalizes the Sultan not only as a warrior-hunter but as a just ruler, guardian of his people, and champion of faith. The union of the hunting scene with radiant inscriptions suggests that the Sultan’s authority extended over both nature and nation, battlefield and household. It stands as a powerful emblem of Mamluk artistry, where strength, justice, and divine favor are inseparably engraved into copper and memory.
