{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O53738"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O53738/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9509/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AB9509/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AB9509","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O53738/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O53738","accessionNumber":"876-1889","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 verses from the Qur'an as well as poetry in Persian praising the ‘kashkul’ in mystical terms.\r\n\r\nThis bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelle Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran. \r\n\r\nThe shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others, including this one, have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel.","physicalDescription":"Kashkul carved from coco de mer. A mouthpiece has been added to make it a drinking vessel, and rings to allow it to be suspended. The surface is carved with Persian and Arabic inscriptions, as well as scenes including lions.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Nut shell of coco de mer palm, carved","categories":[{"text":"Drinking","id":"THES48965"},{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qajar","id":"AAT21708"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AB9509"],"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":"ca. 1859-1860","earliest":"1854-01-01","latest":"1863-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"29","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"14.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"invocation and poem","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"O ‘Ali, help.\r\nThis kashkul is of the Apparent Sun;\r\nIt is of the light of the manifest Creator.\r\nIf you put your finger on its lip [you will hear?]\r\nUntil the Resurrection this kashkul’s cry of “O ‘Ali”.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"date","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"1276","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"At end of Qur'anic inscription"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Kashkul carved from coco de mer, Iran, 1859-60.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"dated AH 1276","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lions (animals)","id":"x30150"}],"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}},{"text":"These bowls are made from a coco de mer (double coconut, Lodoicea maldivica), which probably came from the Seychelles.  The surface of this one is carved in relief with animal combat scenes on the base - you can just see lions attacking bulls.\r\n\r\nSUFI ALMS BOWL (KASHKUL)\r\nIran, dated A.H. 1276 (A.D. 1859)\r\nCoco de mer\r\n876-1889","date":{"text":"5 June 2000","earliest":"2000-06-05","latest":"2000-06-05"}}],"partNumbers":["876-1889"],"accessionNumberNum":"876","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1889,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN1609","2019LP1662","2019LW7565"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2001-02-01","availableToBook":false}}