Tray of Yemeni Sultan al-Mu'ayyad ibn Yusuf
ca. 1296–1321
Medium
Brass; inlaid with silver
Dimensions
Max. Diam. 30 5/8 in. (77.8 cm) Diam. from base to top of rim: 1 3/16 in. (3 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
91.1.602
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the magnificent *Tray of Yemeni Sultan al-Mu'ayyad ibn Yusuf*, crafted by the skilled metalworker Ahmad ibn Husayn al-Mosuli around 1296–1321. This oversized brass tray, measuring nearly 31 inches in diameter and inlaid with shimmering silver, exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic metalworking artistry from Mosul, a renowned center for such craftsmanship in the medieval Near East. Commissioned for Sultan al-Mu'ayyad ibn Yusuf of the Rasulid dynasty in Yemen, the tray likely served ceremonial purposes, such as presenting food or gifts at court. Its Arabic inscriptions—probably praising th...