A Mamluk tinned-copper dish Egypt or Syria, early 16th Century of shallow circular form with lobed rim, profusely engraved with a central roundel filled with inscriptions in thuluth around a heraldic blazon, with arabesques to the well and walls interspersed by knot motifs, geometric bands to rim, ownership inscriptions to rim and exterior 39.5 cm. diam. Footnotes: Inscriptions: to well, mimma 'umila [bi-rasm?] al-maqarr al-ashraf al-'ali al-mawlawi al-sayfi sayyidi muhammad bin Iyas 'azza ansarahu, 'One of what was made [for] the Noble Authority, the High, the Lordly, al-Sayfi (Sayf al-Din), my master, Muhammad bin Iyas, may his victories be glorious'; to rim, sahibihi Abou Tajwa Said Hossein Efendi, 'its owner [is] Abu Tajwa Hossein Efendi'; tughra,'Abu Bahou [Muhammad?]', 1163 (1749-50)'. The tripartite heraldic blazon comprises a napkin to the upper field, a cup with pen-box and two trouser-legs to centre, and an additional cup to lower register. According to L.A. Meyer this blazon was utilised by numerous Mamluk figures towards the end of the fifteenth century (L.A. Meyer, Saracenic Heraldry, Oxford 1933, pp.30-32, cat. no. 28). For instance, Governor of Alexandria, Emir Saif al-Din Khudabirdi Ashrafi (d.1516), used the same coat of arms, see a lobed tray in Gaston Wiet, General Catalogue of the Arab Museum of Cairo: Copper Objects, Cairo 1932, pp.122-123 inv. no. 4456. For a comparable dish, see Christie's, Islamic, Indian and South-East Asian Manuscripts, Miniatures and Works of Art, 24th November 1987, lot 166. Important Notice to Buyers Some countries, e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of works of particular origins. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian), Syrian or Afghan origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid on or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them. Lot to be sold without reserve. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: † R † VAT at the prevailing rate on Hammer Price and Buyer's Premium. R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing