A MAMLUK TINNED COPPER BASIN
Possibly Egypt or Syria, 15th century

Of conical shape, resting on a later-soldered and replaced flat base, with an everted flat rim, the exterior engraved below the rim with a continuous band of knotwork, the centre with arabesque-shaped cartouches filled with scrolling trellis, two lobed cartouches with thuluth calligraphy against spirals, and two flower-shaped medallions filled with a grid of Y-shaped motifs, vegetal meanders and more spirals, the interior plain, 29cm diam. and 14cm high.