Probably Syria (Mamluk Sultanate, 1250–1517)
Around 1300–30
Cast brass, chased and inlaid with silver
Height: 6.7 cm, Diameter: 10.2 cm
This exquisitely decorated inkwell, dedicated to a nobleman, exemplifies the high value placed on all aspects of writing in Islamic cultures, including writing implements.
The objects in The Courtauld’s collection of Islamic metalwork were made in the Middle East and North Africa between around 1250 and 1500. Such pieces were prized for their superb craftsmanship.
Metalworkers from present-day Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria and Turkey perfected the technique of inlaying silver into sheets of hammered and chased (indented) brass. Calligraphic inscriptions, geometric patterns and images of hunters and musicians were popular decorations for these luxury objects.