Metalwork

The al-Sabah Collection contains almost two thousand items of metalwork ranging from elaborately worked vessels inlaid with precious metals to simply cast bronze finials in the form of animals.  Islamic metalworkers, whether in Cairo or Herat, often fashioned relatively simple forms covered the surface in dazzling engraved or precious metal-inlaid patterns of arabesque interlace, processions of animals or long benedictory inscriptions. Objects with calligraphy as decoration occur more frequently in metalwork than any other medium used for objects of utility. These range from benedictory inscriptions to verses from the Qur’an to lines of poetry, and sometimes include the signatures of the artists.

The ancient Near East has a long history of working in copper alloy and bronzes and brasses (copper alloyed with other metals) became the most important material in the pre-Islamic periods.  Objects are almost invariably sculpturally powerful. In the hands of skilled artists, everyday objects such as oil lamps or incense burners became works of art. Brass was especially popular in the Mamluk domains.  In the later period, especially in Iran and India, steel was used for decorative purposes; despite its hardness, it could be cut in openwork patterns, such as arabesques and calligraphic compositions as delicate as lace.

LNS-28-M-v1

LNS 28 M

Gilded bronze belt or harness fitting with representation in openwork...
LNS 1218 M

LNS 1218 M

Bronze incense burner in the form of a stylized feline,...
LNS 939 M v1

LNS 939 M

Bronze incense burner, the openwork body and lid suggesting a...
LNS 293 M v1

LNS 293 M

Parcel gilt bronze divining bowl (central post and rotational element...
LNS 804 M v1

LNS 804 M

Bronze oil lamp with domical lid featuring an openwork plait...
LNS 110 M

LNS 110 M

Brass basin inlaid with silver featuring thuluth inscriptions lauding an...
LNS 82 M v1

LNS 82 M

Bronze candlestick inlaid with copper and silver, with salient rows...
LNS 104 M v5

LNS 104 M

Combined silver folding spoon and fork inlaid with niello, with...
LNS 1136 M a-b (a) v3

LNS 1136 M a

Bronze dish in the form of a fish (for the...
LNS 1052 M a-b v2

LNS 1052 M a,b

Reticulated bronze lamp, with: mounted riders hunting with felines and...
LNS 992 M

LNS 992 M

Reticulated double-walled bronze bottle with bands of undulating half-palmette scrolls,...
LNS 409 M

LNS 409 M

Bronze incense burner (lid missing) decorated in openwork with scrolling...
LNS 608 M

LNS 608 M

Bronze perfume sprinkler decorated with staggered rows of buds...
LNS 36 M v1

LNS 36 M

Brass planispheric astrolabe (the earliest known Islamic example), signed by...
LNS 1338 M v1

LNS 1338 M

Bronze ewer with spirally ribbed body, one rib with a...
error: The content is protected by copyright Reason. For information, please submit a request in the FAQ's form on the contact page. المحتوى محمي بحقوق الطبع والنشر. للمزيد من المعلومات، يرجى تقديم طلب من خلال نموذج الأسئلة الشائعة في صفحة الاتصال