mid-14th century
Syria
Object qualities
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Objecttableware: Stand
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumBrass; hammered and turned, chased, inlaid with silver, copper, and black compound, incised
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SizeH. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm) Diam. 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm)
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Geography detailsAttributed to
Syria -
Country today
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Datemid-14th century
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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Similar stands were widely employed in the Mamluk period to host large rounded metal trays (such as 91.1.604), on which fruits and other food were displayed.
The cup motif inlaid with copper stands out among the richly decoration of this tray. It was a blazon of the cupbearer, one of the differentiated offices of the court of the Mamluk sultans. The inscription reads Husain, son of Qawsun, who was cupbearer to Muhammad b. Qalawun (al-Malik al-Nasir) (1294–1340/41). Despite having been ousted after the sultan’s death, Qawsun’s prestige must have endured, as his sons continued to use his emblem of the ringed cup set within a divided shield.
The glass mosque lamp 17.190.991 was also made for him, as indicated by its inscription.