Fragmentary casket, wood, covered with paper and painted. Iron fittings
Afghanistan; 11th-12th century
Probable original size: H: c. 20; Diam: 30 cm
Inventory number 31/1997 & 51/2001
Although large pieces of the casket have been lost, one can still get an impression of its original decoration. Between the round medallions are lush palmettes of the type typical of Ghaznavid art.
The medallions with addorsed birds have a close parallel in a fresco found in the Ghaznavid hunting lodge in Lashkari Bazar in Afghanistan, where guards are depicted wearing caftans with corresponding patterns.
This might indicate that the casket is a painted version of a type that has not survived: a casket covered with extremely costly patterned textiles.
The medallions with addorsed birds have a close parallel in a fresco found in the Ghaznavid hunting lodge in Lashkari Bazar in Afghanistan, where guards are depicted wearing caftans with corresponding patterns.
This might indicate that the casket is a painted version of a type that has not survived: a casket covered with extremely costly patterned textiles.
Published in
Published in
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 425;
Kjeld von Folsach: “A number of pigmented wooden objects from the Eastern Islamic worlds” in Journal of the David Collection, 1, 2003, figs. 1-3, pp. 72 and 75 and cat.no. 1, p. 91;
Kjeld von Folsach: “A number of pigmented wooden objects from the Eastern Islamic worlds” in Journal of the David Collection, 1, 2003, figs. 1-3, pp. 72 and 75 and cat.no. 1, p. 91;
