Pen case, cast bronze, inlaid with copper, silver, and red and black substances
Iran; 1st half of 13th century
H: 4; W: 6.4; L: 28 cm
Cast and engraved decoration covers the entire surface of this magnificent pen case, which moreover was given outsized and equally richly conceived cast fittings. The lid was inlaid with copper and silver, but this chromatic effect was not enough for the artist, who also used red and black substances to inlay the friezes on the sides with running animals and vines. The effect achieved with black was familiar from niello inlays, while the red color is rarely found.
The following was engraved under the clasp: “The favorite piece of Uthman ibn Abu Bakr from Zanjan.” No wonder Uthman liked it!
Inv. no. 11/1982
Published in:
Spink & Son: Persian and Islamic art, London 1977, cat. 142, p. 46;
Art from the World of Islam. 8th-18th century, Louisiana, Humlebæk 1987, cat. 110;
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat. 322;
Kjeld von Folsach: Fabelvæsner fra Islams Verden, Davids Samling, København 1991, cat. 90;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat. 109;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat. 484;
Joachim Meyer, Rasmus Bech Olsen and Peter Wandel: Beyond words: calligraphy from the World of Islam, The David Collection, Copenhagen 2024, fig. 35, pp. 54-55;
