Bassin au nom d'un grand émir (officier) du Sultan Malik as-Salih

A monumental Mamluk brass for a great emir (officer) of Sultan Malik as-Salih, Mamluk Syria or Egypt, mid-14th century Syria or Mamluk Egypt, Second half 14th century Copper, deep cylindrical shape with a wide flared rim. The inner rim is inscribed with a wide thuluth calligraphic band separated by circular medallions featuring ducks in flight. The bottom of the basin is engraved with seven geometrically decorated medallions. The outside of the basin is decorated with a wide epigraphic band, in Thuluth calligraphy on a background of spiral arabesques, interspersed with three foliate mandorles. Condition: old cracks and restorations, brown patina added. 18 x 45 cm This basin bears witness to the calligraphic elegance emblematic of the work of Mamluk craftsmen, heirs to the Ayyubid craftsmen. Calligraphic bands in elongated thuluth became the main decorative element on metal objects produced for the sovereigns of Egypt in the first decades of the 14th century. The two important epigraphic registers, on the outside and on the inner rim, give the long titles of an anonymous amir in the service of Sultan al-Malik al-Salih. This name may refer to three Mamluk sultans of the 14th century: al-Malik al-Salih Isma'il (r. 1342-5), al-Malik al-Salih Salih (r. 1351-4), al-Malik al-Salih known as al-Mansur Hajji II (r. 1382 and 1389-90). Provenance : French private collection. On loan to the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, from 2005 to 2023. Inscriptions: Sur le marli / Around the inside - Sur le marli / Around the inside of the rim: al-jana[b] al-karim al-'a/li al-mawlawi al-amiri al-kabir[i] a/l-ghazi al-'ahidi [sic] [al-mujahid] al-mur[abiti] al-'aw[ni] / al-'amili al-sayyidi al-sanadi a / ...li al-dhukhri al-humami al-'alimi / al-maliki al-malali [sic] al-nasiri "His noble excellency, the high, the lord, the great amir, the holy warrior, the champion of the faith, the defender, the helper, the diligent, the leader, the supporter ... the treasure house, the heroic, the learned, the possessor, the affiliate of al-Malik al-Nasir". 'His noble excellency, the high, the lordly, the great emir, the holy warrior, the champion of the faith, the defender, the help, the diligent, the leader, the support ... the treasure house, the heroic, the learned, the possessor, the affiliated with al-Malik al-Nasir' - outside on the belly : al-janab al-'ali al-mawlawi al-amiri al-ghazi al-mujahid[i] al-murabiti al-mu'ayyadi al-'adudi al-dhukhri al-muhtarami / al-makhdumi al-humami al-qawami al-nizami al-nasiri al-kafili al-as'adi al-arshadi / al-iftikhari al-sayyid al-zahidi al-'abidi al-khashi'i al-nasiki al-maliki al-nasiri 'His high excellency, the lordly, the emir, the holy warrior, the champion of the faith, the defender, the assisted (by God), the aid, the treasure house, the venerated, the well-served, the heroic, the pillar, the order, the victor, the viceroy, the most fortunate, the most righteous, the pride, the leader, the ascetic, the worshipful, the humble, the devout, the affiliated with al-Malik al-Nasir' His high excellence, the lord, the emir, the holy warrior, the champion of the faith, the defender, the assisted (by God), the helper, the treasure, the revered, the well-served, the heroic, the pillar, the order, the victor, the viceroy, the luckiest, the most righteous, the pride, the leader, the ascetic, the worshipper, the humble, the devout, the affiliated with al-Malik al-Nasir. A monumental Mamluk brass for a great emir (officer) of Sultan Malik as-Salih, Mamluk Syria or Egypt, mid-14th century This basin bears witness to the calligraphic elegance emblematic of the work of Mamluk craftsmen, heirs to the Ayyubid craftsmen. Calligraphic bands in elongated thuluth became the main decorative element on metal objects produced for the sovereigns of Egypt in the first decades of the 14th century. The two important epigraphic registers, on the outside and on the inner rim, give the long titles of an anonymous amir in the service of Sultan al-Malik al-Salih. This name may refer to three Mamluk sultans of the 14th century: al-Malik al-Salih Isma'il (r. 1342-5), al-Malik al-Salih Salih (r. 1351-4), al-Malik al-Salih known as al-Mansur Hajji II (r. 1382 and 1389-90).