Master Suleiman

180 AH/796-797

Bronze, silver, copper H 38 cm, l 45 cm

This vessel in the shape of a bird of prey was used for water and originally had a handle on the top. The whole of its surface was richly decorated and some of the silver and copper inlay has been preserved.

An Arabic inscription on the neck reads ‘in the name of God the Merciful the Compassionate, Blessings/from/God'; it also contains the name of the craftsman, Master Suleiman, and the date, 180 AH. This is the oldest known precisely dated Iranian bronze object.