AN ENGRAVED BRASS DISH WITH THE SCRIBE INSIGNIA
Mamluk Egypt, 15th - 16th century

Of shallow rounded shape, resting on a short raised foot, rising to a narrow everted rim, the interior engraved with a central sunburst medallion surrounded by a frieze of alternating pointed cartouches in-filled with thuluth calligraphy and intertwined split palmette sprays, and four roundels with the scribe insignia (a pen case with inkwell) and grids of typical Mamluk interlaced strapwork, the cavetto and exterior plain, the rim engraved with stylised vegetal scrollwork and roundels, 23.5cm diam. and 3cm high.