The surface of this monumental brass tray is alive with finely etched stories of sovereignty and ceremony, layered with presence and meaning. At its very heart, a crowned ruler rests upon his throne, flanked by two guards, their faces and robes rendered with extraordinary precision. Around this nucleus, calligraphic rays stretch outward like beams of light, binding the sovereign to divine order while proclaiming his justice and authority.
Encircling the center are twelve knightly figures, each symbolizing one of the twelve provinces of the realm. These guardians embody their regions through imagery, one knight mounted upon a lion, others distinguished by weapons, stances, or steeds, together forming a constellation of loyalty and strength. Around them, inscriptions of praise glorify the Sultan with exalted titles.
Calligraphic Inscriptions
The praises declare the Sultan’s majesty:
"مولانا السلطان الملك الناصر العابد المحارب المؤيد الفارس المعور الملك المنصور"
Transliteration:
Mawlānā al-Sulṭān al-Malik al-Nāṣir al-ʿĀbid al-Muḥārib al-Muʾayyad al-Fāris al-Maʿwār al-Malik al-Manṣūr
Translation:
“Our lord, the Sultan, the Victorious King, the Devout, the Warrior, the Supported, the Knight, the Valiant, the Triumphant King.”
Around the outer registers, twelve stamped medallions echo this rhythm of authority, linking the praises to the visual structure of the tray.
Artistic Details
- Twelve Knights: Each knight figure is distinct, embodying the character of a province, symbolizing the Sultan’s dominion across his lands.
- Triangle Separators: Geometric triangular dividers structure the design with mathematical precision, a hallmark of Mamluk ornamentation.
- Courtly Harmony: At the lower register, scenes of princesses, musicians, and couples appear, their gestures animated with birds perched above them in song. These images symbolize harmony, festivity, and flourishing life under the Sultan’s rule.
- Geometric & Vegetal Ground: No space is left idle; interlaced vines, lattices, and arabesques fill the background, blurring the line between decoration and narrative.
- Celestial Rim: The rim is framed with star-like medallions, closing the composition as though the courtly world portrayed lies within a cosmic cycle of order and blessing.
Interpretation
This tray presents a vision of a kingdom in balance: the Sultan enthroned at the center, his twelve knights embodying the strength and character of the provinces, and the outer registers alive with music, festivity, and harmony. Lions, birds, and human figures animate the surface, reflecting a world both vigorous and joyful. Through calligraphy, geometry, and imagery, the tray becomes a proclamation of sovereignty and celebration, a reminder that under the Sultan’s reign, justice, power, and harmony resonate like music within a cosmic order.
