259 - SYRIA - 15th century

SYRIA - 15th century Mamluk basin with a coat of arms featuring a writing desk Tin-plated copper with engraved decoration and black paste inlay Syria, 15th century, Mamluk period H. 7.5 cm - D. 18.5 cm This beautiful, finely engraved basin features an alternating pattern across its entire exterior surface of palmette and arabesque motifs, cartouches with “Y”-shaped patterns typical of the period, very fine interlaced palmettes, calligraphic designs, and six-pointed stars. Beneath the base, a multi-lobed rosette centered on a coat of arms featuring a writing case adorns the central medallion, surrounded by a delicate frieze of plant garlands. Of fine quality, this basin with its rich and unusual decoration shows a kinship with the decoration of so-called “Veneto-Syrian” or “Veneto-Saracen” metalwork, although the presence of the coat of arms and the material suggest that it was intended for the Levantine market. A comparable basin is published in: AULD, S., *Renaissance Venice, Islam, and Mahmud the Kurd: A Metalworking Enigma*, Altajir World of Islam Trust, 2004, cat. no. 4.8, p. 211. Expert: Mr. Alexis RENARD