Rare Seljuk silver bowl - Lot 209

Rare Seljuk silver bowl Silver, engraved and nielloed Probably Iran, 11th/13th century, Seljuk period D. 15.5 cm (cracks and old restoration at foot) This silver Seljuk dish features calligraphy in cartouches alternating with bird medallions. A frieze of braids is engraved around the outer lip. The foot of the object is adorned with a niello flower. Goldsmiths' objects from the medieval period have rarely survived, as they were usually melted down to reuse their precious raw materials. Most of the objects we do know are either objects that survived in caches, or were discovered in the ground. The hard-to-decipher inscription probably consists of blessings to the owner. For an object dating from the early years of the 13th century, made for the governor of the Hamadan region, see : Ward R. (1993) Islamic Metalwork, British Museum press, p.86, ill.65.