ISLAMIC METALWORK

Islamic Metalwork

Islamic Metalwork

Introduction

The use of metal objects in Islamic society had important and widespread use: cooking was carried out in metal basins and pans; the houses would have metal fittings on doors and windows; the hands of guests were washed in metal ewers; the literate would have metal pen cases and inkwells; female toiletries included metal-backed mirrors, kohl sticks, cosmetic containers, etc.; horses would be decorated with brass; and in battle it would be a melee of metal on metal.

The impressions gained from collections of Islamic metalwork are that most items are made of brass or bronze decorated with copper, silver, and gold, and that gold and silver vessels as such are very few. This impression is mistaken, for Islamic literature and miniature paintings are replete with descriptions of ornamental luxury silver and gold vessels.

There are two reasons for the paucity of vessels crafted of precious metals. One being is the Islamic edict that forbids the burying of the deceased with his possessions, as practiced by other cultures. Two, the silversmiths were wont to melt down such objects for profit or to reuse the materials for new objects. Thus, most of the extant Islamic gold and silver objects are derived from buried hoards, which were uncovered by the spade of the treasure hunter or archaeologist. The manufacture of metal vessels in the Muslim world was usually a family tradition. Among the metalsmiths were some who served in the function of varied Islamic governmental administrations, or were merchants or officials. Their titles attest to their being educated men. Sometimes, apprentices were initiated into the secrets of the profession to help the master metalsmiths. Some of the craftsmen worked under patrons of art; others were itinerant artisans.

For practical reasons, casting was done in workshops equipped with furnaces, bellows, molds, and lathes for finishing the work. The inlay craftsmen, who needed few portable tools, moved among the patrons who provided them with the precious metals, which contributed to the spread of patterns, motifs and varied techniques in the crafting of inlaid metalwork.

The lavishly decorated wares that were ordered glorify the patron's names with dedicatory inscriptions and heraldic blazons. Many hundreds of inlaid metalwork objects that have survived are inscribed with the names of the patrons, their titles and often their blazons. Occasionally artifacts even bear the name of the ruling sultan of an Islamic country, showing that the items have been crafted for use in the court. Many of the artifacts were embossed with a Kufic (early style of Arabic script) blessing to the patron, “Fortune, joy, happiness, peace, and long life to its owner.”

History of Metal Works

The art and craft of metalwork in Iran has a long history beginning thousands of years ago. It is beyond doubt that metalwork in Moslem Iran was based on trends, techniques and samples which had passed down from the Sassanid empire. The motifs found on early Moslem metalworks in Iran, clearly show the influence and imprint of the Sassanid era and ...