Summary
Highlights
The video introduces a magnificent Mamluk basin displayed in the new Islamic Art Galleries at the Louvre in Paris. This object, dating from 1320-1340, originated in Egypt and Syria and was later used for centuries to baptize children of the French royal family. The Mamluks, known for their exceptional craftsmanship in textiles and metalwork, created this piece.
Unlike typical Islamic vessels with calligraphy, this basin is extensively adorned with figures, animals, and intricate patterning. The only uncovered sections are the bottom few inches of the inner walls; even the basin's floor is fully decorated with abstract sea animal patterns, including eels in silver.
Above the abstract patterns, the inner wall features a continuous band of parading animals, followed by a wide frieze of men on horseback interspersed with animals, medallions, and figures of rulers. Two frontal rulers holding goblets are depicted, surrounded by scenes of hunting and battle, including limbs and a decapitated head, indicating violence.
The largest frieze on the exterior displays four horseback figures in roundels, engaged in activities like hunting, drawing a bow, and processing. Surrounding these roundels are numerous figures in procession towards the royal figures, performing various actions such as leading a leopard or raising a goblet. The density of these figures creates complex, interwoven forms. The very bottom band features small roundels with Fleur-de-lis, the symbol of the French royal family, which was also associated with a Mamluk Sultan, suggesting potential reworkings when the basin arrived in France.
The basin notably lacks the Islamic inscriptions typically found on such objects, leading to speculation that it might have been commissioned for a non-Muslim audience or for export, despite its rich imagery, which includes a unicorn, elephant, leopard, camel, and antelope, all displaying movement and energy. The artist, ibn al-Zain, signed his name six times just under the rim, indicating his pride in this exceptional piece of Mamluk artistry, with another of his works also housed at the Louvre.