Lot 160c, Auction 4/20/2026: 11th C. Seljuk Khorasan Copper Lead Cauldron w/ Flanges

$455.00

In stock

Central Asia, Persia, Seljuk to Early Khwarazmian Period, Khorasan, ca. 11th to 12th century CE. A rare survivor of medieval Islamic metallurgy, this cast copper-lead alloy cauldron reflects the exceptional craftsmanship of Khorasan during the Seljuk and early Khwarazmian periods. The vessel features a robust hemispherical body supported on three short tripod legs and is crowned with four evenly spaced horizontal flanges projecting from the thickened rim. Each flange once bore Kufic inscriptions, now mostly worn or obscured, hinting at an origin steeped in both function and meaning. Though austere in profile, the cauldron’s flanged form speaks volumes. These flat extensions likely served as sockets for lifting rods or handles, enabling the vessel to be suspended above a flame – ideal for heating contents over an open fire. As such, it may have functioned as a utilitarian cooking pot, a fire bowl, or even as a censer in a religious or ceremonial context. Size: 15.1″ W x 5.3″ H (38.4 cm x 13.5 cm)

The interior is richly patinated in shades of turquoise and emerald, while the exterior bears the burnished black and earthen traces of centuries of use and burial. This undecorated form with a flange-rimmed top is characteristic of Khorasan’s regional production, where bronze casting achieved technical and aesthetic brilliance. What sets this piece apart is its dual identity: both pragmatic and poetic. The Kufic inscriptions, though no longer legible, once offered blessings, ownership marks, or pious phrases – bridging worldly function and sacred invocation. In its simplicity, the cauldron captures the intellectual elegance of Seljuk metalwork: where geometry, inscription, and fire-forged form were shaped in the service of both daily life and divine design.

Condition: Probe hole in lower wall and stable fissure near one handle. Heavily corroded with age-commensurate surface wear as shown. Otherwise, nice presentation with rich earthen deposits and great patina.

Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s

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