Silver-Inlaid Cylindrical Inkwell (Dawat) with Zodiacal Imagery

This is a magnificent example of a Khurasan silver-inlaid copper-alloy inkwell (dawat), a hallmark of 12th- and 13th-century Persian metalwork.

Description

Overview & Attribution

• Object: Cylindrical lidded inkwell (dawat).
• Culture/Period: Seljuk/Ghurid period, Khurasan School.
• Origin: Likely Herat (modern-day Afghanistan) or Nishapur. Herat was the preeminent center for this “high-style” inlaid metalwork before the Mongol invasions of 1221.
• Date: Late 12th to early 13th century.
• Material: Cast copper alloy (often referred to as brass or “leaded bronze”) with silver inlay and traces of black organic paste (bitumen) used to highlight the engraving.

The Body: Zodiacal & Planetary Iconography

The “seated personages” represent the Zodiac and Seven Planets, a standard decorative program for high-status Khurasan metalwork.

• Trellis Work: The interlocking “Y-shaped” or geometric trellis creates a series of hexagonal cartouches.
• Figurative Detail: One figure holds a set of balance scales, identifying the sign of Libra. Other figures, such as the musician (likely representing the planet Venus/al-Zuhra) and the figure holding a crescent moon (the Moon/al-Qamar), indicate a celestial protective scheme intended to bring the owner “good fortune” through astrological alignment.
• Background: The background is filled with a dense, scrolling foliate vine, often merging into the “waq-waq” style (where vines end in human or animal heads), though here it remains primarily botanical.

The Lid & Suspension System

• Finial: The domed, lobed finial resembles the architectural “fluted domes” found in Seljuk funerary architecture. The geometric knotwork on the lobes is a “seal of Solomon” variation, intended as a protective motif.
• Suspension Loops: Note the three sets of protruding loops on the lid that align with corresponding loops on the body. These were functional; silk or leather cords would be threaded through them, allowing the inkwell to be carried securely at a scribe’s waist.
• Interior Rim: The band of repetitive birds (resembling ducks or waterfowl) is a “water” motif, symbolically appropriate for a vessel containing liquid ink.

The Base: Epigraphy & Feet

• Inscription: The script is a sophisticated floriated Kufic or early Naskhi. These “benedictory” inscriptions were standard, typically wishing the owner “Glory, Prosperity, Power, and Happiness” (al-izza wa al-iqbal wa al-dawla wa al-sa’ada).
• Feet: The three teardrop-shaped feet (often called “nipple feet” in some catalogs) are cast as part of the base to provide stability.
• Central Medallion: The base features a complex, twelve-pointed interlaced geometric knot, mirroring the celestial themes on the body.

Summary Description

Title: Silver-Inlaid Cylindrical Inkwell (Dawat) with Zodiacal Imagery Region: Khurasan (likely Herat), Eastern Iran/Afghanistan Date: Late 12th–Early 13th Century

Description: A heavy, cast copper-alloy inkwell of cylindrical form with a hinged, domed lid. The exterior is elaborately decorated with silver inlay against an engraved ground. The body features a geometric trellis forming six hexagonal cartouches, each containing a seated figure representing a sign of the Zodiac or a planetary body; notably, the figure of Libra is visible holding scales. The lid is surmounted by a fluted, lobed finial with silver-inlaid interlace, flanked by concentric bands of scrolling foliate motifs and three suspension loops for portable use.

The interior shoulder displays a delicate band of repetitive water birds and a “rope” border. The underside of the vessel is supported by three teardrop feet and is centered by a complex interlaced medallion. A wide circular band of silver-inlaid Arabic script in floriated Kufic provides a series of benevolent wishes (as-sa’ada being prominent). The patina shows characteristic verdigris and oxidation consistent with an early 13th-century attribution.

A Note on Condition

The hinge and clasp are intact, though there is significant loss of silver inlay in the recessed areas – a common occurrence where the “keying” (the tiny hatched lines that hold the silver) has worn down. The verdigris inside the rim is a natural result of the copper alloy reacting to moisture or the acidic components of medieval ink (which often contained iron gall or carbon).