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10 février 2019

A Veneto-Saracenic dish, ascribed to Mahmud al-Kurdi, Egypt or Syria, second-half 15th century

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Lot 104. A Veneto-Saracenic dish, ascribed to Mahmud al-Kurdi, Egypt or Syria, second-half 15th century; 36.6cm. diam. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 GBP. Lot sold 35,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2014

of shallow form with flat rim, a dense ground of foliate motifs overlaid with knotted ropework in silver forming cartouches and medallions.

Inscriptions

‘amal al-mu’allim mahmu[d]/ al-kurdi yarju al-mahgfi[ra]
‘Work of the master Mahmud al-Kurdi, hoping for forgiveness’

Scholarly debate over the group of metalwork known as 'Veneto-Saracenic wares' has seen them be attributed to both Venice and the Middle East. Mahmud al-Kurdi presents a particularly interesting and enigmatic figure in this debate, his signature appearing both in Arabic (or Persian) and transliterated Roman script. Furthermore, it is still uncertain whether these signatures should be interpreted as the work of a single master or refer to an entire atelier. Although a small number of signed works are securely attributed to the master himself, there remain many more works which could possibly be ascribed to him, including this dish which on stylistic accounts can be attributable to his period. These objects, often finely worked and manifesting plural influences, speak of the extensive trade network between Renaissance Europe and the Islamic world at this time. 

For further information on the works by Mahmud al-Kurdi, see S. Auld, Renaissance Venice, Islam and Mahmud the Kurd: A metalworking enigma, London, 2004. 

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World, London, 08 Oct 2014

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