Basin with Zodiac Signs and Royal Titles
Unknown Artist
late 13th–early 14th century
Medium
Brass; engraved and inlaid with silver and black compound
Dimensions
H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) Diam. 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm)
Classification
Metal
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.553
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite brass basin from the late 13th early 14th century the pinnacle of Islamic metalworking artistry. Crafted by unknown artist, it measures just 4½ inches high and 12¾ inches in diameter, making it a portable luxury item likely used for ritual handwashing in elite households or courts. The surface is masterfully engraved and inlaid with silver and a compound—a technique known asascening—that creates shimmering contrasts and enduring durability, hallmarks of the's technical sophistication. The's decoration centers on zodiac signs, rendered in Arabic script alongside royal titles, re...