A mid-20th century Iranian (Persian) silver bowl, Isfahan circa 1950, mark of Martins of Tehran

Pahlavi dynasty, of hemispherical form with a corded rim upon a collet foot. The body with finely engraved ghalam zani panels of long tailed birds among peony sprays gol-o bolbol, reserved with floral cartouches, arabesque scrolls, and lattice work. The central decoration all above a band of peony cartouches and a further rosettes band, the upper section with calligraphic vignettes as three different verses from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, including Ruba'i (quatrain) 163, all interspaced by lobed vacant cartouches all below a rosette band. The collet foot with an engraved band of saz leaves. Marked underneath with retailers mark مارتين Made in Iran and 84%.

Diameter – 21.5 cm / 8.5 inches

Weight – 805 grams / 25.98 ozt

There are two marks associated with this firm, one as on this bowl in Farsi, the other stamped MARTINS TEHRAN, the English mark is seen on Isfahan type engraved pieces in a style from circa 1930 whereas the Farsi mark, is associated with post-1940 Isfahan work. The firm of Martins was likely run by a European, probably French or German.

Khayyam (163)

“Glad hearts, who seek not notoriety,

Nor flaunt in gold and silken bravery,

Haunt not this ruined earth like gloomy owls,

But wing their way, Simurgh-like, to the sky”