Antique 16th Century Islamic Safavid Al Jazari Combination Locking Brass Casket. Circa 1550

A highly important engraved Islamic combination locking brass casket, based on a design by the 12th Century Arab inventor & artist Ismail Al Jazari. Circa 1550.

The casket from the mid 16th century (or possibly earlier) Safavid period & having a hinged lid with riveted strapwork. There are four dials on the top of the lid and they are repeated on each of the four sides, each dial having circular engraved bands with Arabic letters, the casket is decorated with engraved floral Arabesque and has bands of engraved Arabic calligraphy to the top and the base, the casket is raised on four compressed bun feet.

The casket is based on a design from Al Jazari's "Book of Knowledge", there are only five such caskets known from the 13th Century, one is shown in the Khalili Collection. This casket most likely dates to the middle of the 16th century and is unusual in that the dials are repeated on each side, not just the lid.

Condition is very good. Provenance; From a prominent Middle Eastern collection.

Imperial

11.88 inches high × 15.63 inches wide × 11.38 inches deep

Metric

30.17 cm high × 39.69 cm wide x 28.9 cm deep

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