The al-Sabah Collection contains almost two thousand items of metalwork ranging from elaborately worked vessels inlaid with precious metals to simply cast bronze finials in the form of animals. Islamic metalworkers, whether in Cairo or Herat, often fashioned relatively simple forms covered the surface in dazzling engraved or precious metal-inlaid patterns of arabesque interlace, processions of animals or long benedictory inscriptions. Objects with calligraphy as decoration occur more frequently in metalwork than any other medium used for objects of utility. These range from benedictory inscriptions to verses from the Qur’an to lines of poetry, and sometimes include the signatures of the artists.
The ancient Near East has a long history of working in copper alloy and bronzes and brasses (copper alloyed with other metals) became the most important material in the pre-Islamic periods. Objects are almost invariably sculpturally powerful. In the hands of skilled artists, everyday objects such as oil lamps or incense burners became works of art. Brass was especially popular in the Mamluk domains. In the later period, especially in Iran and India, steel was used for decorative purposes; despite its hardness, it could be cut in openwork patterns, such as arabesques and calligraphic compositions as delicate as lace.
The al-Sabah Collection contains almost two thousand items of metalwork ranging from elaborately worked vessels inlaid with precious metals to simply cast bronze finials in the form of animals.
Islamic metalworkers, whether in Cairo or Herat, often fashioned relatively simple forms covered the surface in dazzling engraved or precious metal-inlaid patterns of arabesque interlace, processions of animals or long benedictory inscriptions. Objects with calligraphy as decoration occur more frequently in metalwork than any other medium used for objects of utility. These range from benedictory inscriptions to verses from the Qur’an to lines of poetry, and sometimes include the signatures of the artists.
The ancient Near East has a long history of working in copper alloy and bronzes and brasses (copper alloyed with other metals) became the most important material in the pre-Islamic periods. Objects are almost invariably sculpturally powerful. In the hands of skilled artists, everyday objects such as oil lamps or incense burners became works of art. Brass was especially popular in the Mamluk domains. In the later period, especially in Iran and India, steel was used for decorative purposes; despite its hardness, it could be cut in openwork patterns, such as arabesques and calligraphic compositions as delicate as lace.
Bronze ewer with spirally ribbed body, one rib with a single diminutive scroll. The handle’s ‘thumbrest’ in the form of a palmette, its base terminated by a stylized antelope head
Inv. no. LNS 1338 M
Body and handle separately cast, chased and engraved
Height 38 cm; width 17 cm
East Iranian world, 8th – 9th century AD
2nd – 3rd century AH
Brass planispheric astrolabe (the earliest known Islamic example), signed by Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah (known as ‘Nastulus’) and dated in Arabic letters (abjad numeration) to 315 AH
Inv. no. LNS 36 M
Cast and engraved
Height 22.3 cm; diameter 17.7 cm
Iraq, probably Baghdad, dated 315 AH/927-28 AD
To see more metalwork objects
For information on our metalwork publication Arts of the Hellenized East: Precious Metalwork and Gems of the Pre-Islamic Era
For information on our metalwork publication: Metalwork from the Arab World and the Mediterranean