Metal art was very popular in the Islamic world. Despite religious objections precious metals were also used for everyday ware. In the Qur’an (Sura 9, Verse 34), however, those accumulating precious metals for their private purposes instead of permitting the whole community of believers to benefit from such goods are threatened with hell. This prohibition is also found in the comprehensive collection of authentic hadiths (traditions) compiled by al-Bukhari in the 9th century. According to his books about food and beverage, tableware should not be made of precious metals such as gold and silver. The above restrictions, however, had no dampening effect on metal art. Metals were used to produce a variety of objects, tableware, functional objects, jewellery, weapons and armour. Also lamps, candleholders, candelabra, table tops and side tables were made of metal. In order to circumvent the injunctions against precious metals a special inlay technique was used to give objects made of less precious metal a shimmer of gold or silver. This technique, popular since the twelfth century, consists of roughing the surfaces intended for ornamentation and subsequently hammering gold or silver laminates onto it. Objects made of copper, brass, bronze or steel thus offer upgraded surfaces and give the impression of gold and silver.
The Museum of Applied Arts has a rich collection of metal works from Iran, Egypt, Middle Asia and India.

 

Based on German text by Ebba Koch und Christine Kofler

Kunst des Islam: Teppiche, Keramiken und Fayencen, Gläser und

Moschee-lampen, Metallarbeiten aus den Sammlungen des 

Österreichischen Museums für angewandte Kunst, Wien 1977.

Objects:

Candlestick
Egypt, 13th / 14th century
Bronze inlaid with silver
h 34,5cm d 32,2cm and 9,3cm

Shape: Truncated conical base with a tapering tubular shaft carrying the socket of the candle. The engraved and chased decoration shows medallions with scenes of figures without faces and inscriptions. The dedicatory inscription on the socket contains the name of Sultan Nasir Muhammad, son of Mansur (1293-1341) with interruptions. The large inscription on the tapered base spells out well wishing and eulogistic words: power, fame, fortune, grace, virtues, etc.

Bowl
Persia, 17th century
Copper tin-plated
h 20,5cm d 45,5cm

Friezes with engraved and chased inscriptions, arabesques on a blackened surface. The date of manufacture is inscribed in a four- lobed medallion: “Dhu’l-Higga, 1076 Hijrah” (corresponding to June 1665) and an owner’s name at the bottom of the bowl: “The owner [is] Akbar”.
The other inscriptions contain supplications to the twelve Imams (religious leaders of the Shia faith) and some humorous verses of a tavern poem.

Bowl
Persia, 17th century
Copper, tin-plated
h 11cm, d 26cm

Chased and engraved hunting scenes and inscriptions on a blackened surface. Epigraphic band below the rim.
The inscriptions read:
1. Supplication to the twelve Imams/: “Oh Allah, bestow your peace and blessings on Muhammad al-Mustafa and `Ali al-Mustafa and Fatima al-Batul and Hasan and Husain as-Sibtan! Bless `Ali Zain al-Ubad and Muhammad al-Baqir and Jafar as-Sadiq! And Musa al-Kazim and Ali ar-Riza and Muhammad at-Taqi and Ali an-Naqi and Hasan al-Askari az-Zaki! Bless the Mahdi al-Hadi, the lords of the time and the age!”
2. In a specially embellished medallion name of the owner: “ His servant, Muhammad Shafi”
3. A secondary owner’s inscription outside at the bottom of the bowl: “The owner is her Highness the Begum”
4. Date of manufacture on the figures of horsemen and animals: “Work of Mirza Muhammad from Runan, end of Dhu’l-Qada 1052 Hijrah” (corresponding to the 21st of January 1643)

Ewer with beak-shaped spout
Persia, 17th – 18th century
Brass
h 28cm

A globe shaped bowl with a foot and a horseshoe-shaped hollow handle fitted with a funnel like opening closed by a lid. The décor consists of engraved tendrils and two registers of medallions filled with enthroned figures and demons.