A rare Islamic mortar with human faces Engraved... Lot 516

A rare Islamic mortar with human faces Engraved cast bronze with remnants of red pigment and matte black patina with traces of verdigris. With protruding base and rim. Decorated with four lotus bud reliefs and engraved depictions of faces. The upper and lower borders with calligraphic inscriptions and sphinx motifs in medallions. H 11.5, D 17 cm, weight c. 3.3 kg. Attributed to Iran, 12th - 13th C. Literature Another mortar with depictions of human faces in the Victoria and Albert Museum London, acc. no. M.24-1963. Cf. Melikian-Chirvani, Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, London 1982, p. 161 f.