{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O111333"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111333/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9541/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9541/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB9541","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JY0191","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O111333/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O111333","accessionNumber":"405-1876","objectType":"Kashkul","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The beggar's bowl, or kashkul, was a sign of the religious poverty assumed by Islamic mystics. This function is reflected in the inscriptions used. On this kashkul they include a poem in Persian lauding the kashkul in mystical terms.\r\n\r\nMany kashkuls are carved from half the shell of a huge nut - the fruit of the coco de mer palm. The tree grows in the Seychelle Islands, in the Indian Ocean, and the shell washes ashore in southern Iran. This took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. The shape of the coco de mer nut was copied in steel kaskhuls like this one.","physicalDescription":"Bowl with small spout in the form of a <i>kashkul</i> or dervish's wallet, made of watered steel, chased and engraved with flowers and inscriptions naming the maker Haji Abbas, Isfahan","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Haji Abbas","id":"A17292"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"chasing","id":"AAT54016"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT190536"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel bowl, chased and engraved","categories":[{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qajar","id":"AAT21708"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AB9541","2017JY0191"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"WW7","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Kashkul","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1875","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"24.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"poem in Persian","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"This tale is of the lustre of a steel kashkul which was\r\nWorthy of the Khaqan of China and to ornament the feast of a Caesar.\r\nWhoever desires the spring of Khidr and eternal life,\r\nOr the cup of Jamshid, seeking it from the hand of an Alexander,\r\nImbibe the secret of the form of the kashkul from the enduring appraisals;\r\nIts fame is an open shop; the kings of the world the customers.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The present bowl is one of the two finest steel kashkuls known; the other is in the Nuhad es-Said Collection. These, in addition to many of the other steel kashkuls in various collections, must be late-19th century in origin, despite their makers’ efforts to make them look as early as 17th century. Several are signed by one Haji Abbas, who apparently died in 1960 or 1961 but liked to sign his works as the son of the chief armourer to Shah Abbas (r. 1588-1629).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Steel kashkul with engraved decoration, Qajar Iran, 1800-1875.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"James Allan and Brian Gilmour, <u>Persian Steel: The Tanavoli Collection</u>, Oxford, 2000, pp. 319-20."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Jameel Gallery \r\n\r\n12–14 Beggar’s Bowls\r\nIran\r\n1800–75\r\n\r\nThe beggar’s bowl was a sign of the religious poverty assumed by Islamic mystics. This function is reflected in the inscriptions used. They include verses from the Qur’an (12), poetry in Persian about the mystic’s quest for enlightenment (13), and Shi’ite prayers (14).\r\n\r\nThe first bowl (12) is carved from half the shell of a huge nut – the fruit of the coco de mer palm. The tree grows in the Seychelle Islands, in the Indian Ocean, and the shell washes ashore in southern Iran. The steel bowl (13) has the same shape.\r\n\r\n12 Carved coco de mer with steel mounts\r\nMuseum no. 876-1889\r\n\r\n13 Steel with chiselled decoration. Signed by Haji Abbas\r\nMuseum no. 405-1876\r\n\r\n14 Lime wood, carved and painted\r\nMuseum no. 726-1876","date":{"text":"Jameel Gallery","earliest":"2006-07-20","latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["405-1876"],"accessionNumberNum":"405","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1876,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2017KC7813","2019LP5284","2019LP1907","2019LW7156"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2005-04-19","availableToBook":false}}