Description:

A COCO-DE-MER BEGGAR'S BOWL (KASHKUL), PERSIA, LATE 18TH/19TH CENTURY
Persia, late 18th to 19th century

Description:
A finely engraved kashkul (dervish beggar’s bowl) carved from the shell of the coco-de-mer palm, decorated with incised figural scenes, vegetal motifs, and calligraphic bands in elegant nastaliq script. The body is adorned with dynamic battle scenes and dervish iconography, rendered in deep relief and filled with rich, dark patination. The rim is framed by an Arabic invocation, flanked by two brass suspension rings with multiple fine chains for carrying. This piece embodies the spiritual and artistic refinement of Qajar-period devotional art, used by wandering dervishes as both a symbolic and functional object.

Dimensions: 28 x 11.5 cm

A notable example of Islamic metal-inlaid coconut kashkuls, reflecting the Sufi practice of ascetic wandering and religious devotion. These bowls were often richly decorated to convey mystical narratives or showcase their patron’s wealth and piety.

Comparable examples:

  • Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, London, 25 October 2018, Lot 160: A Qajar coco-de-mer kashkul, with calligraphic and figural decoration, sold for £10,625.

  • Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 20 April 2016, Lot 184: A Persian kashkul, 19th century, of similar form and decoration, sold for £11,250.

  • Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, London, 30 April 2019, Lot 190: A Qajar engraved coco-de-mer kashkul with chain attachments, sold for £8,812.

Notes:
These rare vessels, often mistaken for metal due to their heavy patina and engravings, were typically reserved for high-ranking dervishes or used ceremonially. The depiction of horsemen, fantastical creatures, and floral scrolls aligns with the Qajar aesthetic merging heroic epics and devotional symbolism.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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