Description:

Lot 105. A BRONZE AND SILVER-INLAID MORTAR WITH PESTLE
Khorassan, Central Iran, 12th Century

Of cylindrical form with slightly flaring sides and a thickened rim, the mortar is cast in bronze and finely inlaid with silver, its surface enriched with registers of Kufic inscription, figural imagery, and scrolling vegetal ornament. The upper frieze presents an elongated band of stylised inscription inlaid in silver, framed below by a procession of suspended roundels containing riders, musicians, and birds, each set within delicate arabesque tendrils. The lower border is filled with a continuous scrolling vine inhabited by small stylised animals and birds.

The accompanying pestle, of tapering form with a broad, flattened head, is similarly inlaid around the collar with a narrow band of geometric interlace and inscription. The metal retains a deep olive-brown patina with traces of green oxidation within the recessed areas.

Mortars of this type were highly prized utilitarian objects in medieval Iran, used for apothecary, culinary, and perfumery purposes, yet executed with an artistry equal to that of luxury metalwork. The combination of Kufic script, figural imagery, and vegetal scrolls is characteristic of Khorassan craftsmanship at its height, exemplifying the fusion of technical mastery and decorative sophistication that defined Islamic metalwork of the period.



Diameter: 13cm

Height: 15cm

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November 4, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

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