This imposing goblet, accompanied by its matching pestle, stands as both a vessel and a chronicle of power. Fashioned in burnished brass, its tall form rises from a wide base and a slender flaring stem, transforming function into a stage where artistry, narrative, and devotion converge.
Calligraphic Inscriptions
Encircling the goblet are bold registers of Mamluk-style inscriptions, proclaiming praises and royal titles:
Arabic:
"العز لمولانا السلطان الملك المؤيد الولي العالم العامل الغانم العارف المجاهد القائد الإمام الناصر محمد بن قلاوون"
Transliteration:
al-ʿizz li-mawlānā al-sulṭān al-malik al-Muʾayyad al-walī al-ʿālim al-ʿāmil al-ghānim al-ʿārif al-mujāhid al-qāʾid al-imām al-nāṣir Muḥammad ibn Qalāwūn.
Translation:
“Glory to our lord, the Sultan, al-Malik al-Muʾayyad, the guardian, the learned, the diligent, the victorious, the wise, the warrior in faith, the commander, the imam, the triumphant, Muḥammad ibn Qalāwūn.”
These inscriptions flow in rhythm with vegetal arabesques, turning words of blessing into a tapestry of ornament.
Artistic Details
- Narrative Medallions: Between the calligraphy appear framed medallions with engraved horsemen and human figures, recalling tales of valor, courtly ceremony, and cycles of power.
- Geometric Borders: Bands of braids, feather-like motifs, and interlaced knots divide the registers, providing cadence and visual structure.
- Vegetal Scrolls: Delicate arabesques weave between letters and medallions, embodying growth and divine order.
- Surface Patina: The brass has deepened into a rich golden patina, enhancing contrast and giving depth to every line.
- Pestle: The accompanying brass pestle, engraved with matching arabesques and calligraphy, completes the set, uniting utility with ceremonial symbolism.
Interpretation
This goblet is more than a drinking vessel; it is a ceremonial manuscript in metal. The inscriptions exalt Sultan Muḥammad ibn Qalāwūn, while the medallions recount scenes of power and valor. The geometric and vegetal frameworks bind these voices together into a vision of endurance and legitimacy. With its pestle, the piece embodies both utility and ritual presence, serving as an object of prestige that carried the echoes of artistry, myth, and sovereignty into the gatherings of the Mamluk court.
