This vessel is a striking example of late medieval Mamluk metalwork, crafted from copper and richly inlaid with silver. Its flared, trumpet-like form combines utility with ceremonial grandeur, transforming metal into a manuscript of artistry and devotion.
Calligraphic Inscriptions
The body is encircled with tall engraved panels of flowing script, praising the Sultan:
Arabic:
"العز لمولانا السلطان الملك الناصر العادل"
Transliteration:
al-ʿizz li-mawlānā al-sulṭān al-malik al-nāṣir al-ʿādil.
Translation:
“Glory to our lord, the Sultan al-Malik al-Nāṣir, the just.”
The inscriptions are framed with arabesque scrolls, uniting sacred words with ornamental mastery.
Artistic Details
- Flared Rim: The wide mouth is encircled with a delicate feather-like border, softening the commanding form.
- Calligraphic Panels: Tall interwoven panels of script dominate the body, framed by scrolling arabesques that create a rhythm of movement and devotion.
- Vegetal Base: Around the lower section, stylized lotus petals and palmettes are engraved, symbols of regeneration, purity, and divine protection.
- Underside Rosette: The base carries an intricate knotwork rosette, a geometric emblem of infinity and interconnectedness.
- Material Contrast: The alternating gleam of worn silver inlay and the warm copper patina create a dramatic interplay of light and shadow, accentuating depth and detail.
Interpretation
This vessel was more than a functional container; it was a ceremonial proclamation. The praises to Sultan al-Malik al-Nāṣir frame the object in authority, while the arabesques, vegetal motifs, and knotwork rosette situate it within a cosmology of eternity and renewal. Its form and decoration embody the Mamluk vision of rulership, faith, and artistry, uniting practical object with symbolic meaning.
