This shallow basin reveals its artistry through balance, subtlety, and detail. Forged in copper with luminous silver inlay, it carries both functional strength and layers of ornament that elevate it into a ceremonial object. Its flared profile, wide mouth, and warm body form the foundation for a surface where every plane, inside, outside, and even beneath, was given the hand of the engraver.

Calligraphic Inscriptions
The vessel carries praises to the Sultan, inscribed in bold Fatimid-style script:

Arabic:
"العز لمولانا السلطان العالم العادل"

Transliteration:
al-ʿizz li-mawlānā al-sulṭān al-ʿālim al-ʿādil.

Translation:
“Glory to our lord, the Sultan, the learned, the just.”

The calligraphy appears in concentric bands, engraved along the rim, woven into the inner medallions, and even inscribed on the base, hidden blessings meant to protect and inspire.

Artistic Details

• Exterior Bands: Bold bands of silver-inlaid calligraphy alternate with framed geometric braid-like patterns, their contrast alive against the copper ground.
• Interior Rosette: At the center blooms a radiant star-shaped rosette, its petals interlaced and encircled by flowing script in concentric harmony.
• Inner Calligraphy: Inscriptions radiate inward around the wide mouth, transforming the vessel’s interior into a theatre of devotion.
• Underside Ornament: Even the unseen base is richly engraved, a geometric starburst framed by foliate medallions and repeating motifs, a hidden jewel that reveals the artisan’s complete devotion.
• Rim & Handling: Subtle irregularities on the rim attest to centuries of use and handling, marking it as both precious and lived.
• Material Contrast: Warm copper and cool silver interact across the surface, catching light in shifting tones at every angle.

Interpretation
This basin is more than a vessel; it is a world of design in metal. Its praises of the Sultan proclaim power and justice, while its geometry and arabesques reflect divine order and continuity. By ornamenting not only the visible surfaces but also the concealed base, the maker declared that no part of creation is without meaning. It is a Fatimid object of philosophy, devotion, and craft, designed to endure and to be rediscovered anew with each gaze.