Bronze Bobrinsky Bucket from Herat, Eastern Islamic, Persian...

Estimate

£300 - £500

Bronze Bobrinsky Bucket from Herat, Eastern Islamic, Persian 

The Bobrinski Bucket, also called the Bobrinski Kettle or Bobrinski Cauldron (also spelled Bobrinsky), is a bronze bucket produced in Herat, present-day Afghanistan.The bucket’s height is a mere 21 cm and consists of a rounded body with a rim and heightened base, and a handle in the shape of real and mythological creatures. The bucket is cast in bronze, with copper and silver inlaid decorations and inscriptions throughout the bucket’s handle, rim, and body. The body of the bucket features seven horizontal bands of inlaid decorations, including the rim, consisting of inscription and iconography. Discussion of the purpose of the bucket has sparked speculation among scholars of Islamic Art.

Inscription
The bucket features three bands of calligraphy. The first band of calligraphy is in an anthropomorphic script, meaning that the letters have human features. The second band is an interlaced Kufic script with a geometric pattern. The third band consists of anthropomorphic script with the tails of the letters interlaced with running animals. Such anthropomorphic and zoomorphic scripts are commonly found in works from the twelfth century.These bands of inscription along the bucket’s body are written in Arabic. The text consists of well wishes for the owner of the bucket, as is typical for portable Islamic metalwork.

Size : 21 cm H x Dia 19 cm, Base Dia 12 cm