{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O70294"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O70294/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF6894/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AF6894/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AF6894","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KL6355","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O70294/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O70294","accessionNumber":"8508:1, 2-1863","objectType":"Box","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This lid of this casket depicts the heavens, with the sun, six planets and the signs of the zodiac. The sides illustrate life below, with falconers hunting  on horseback and  knights slaying  mythical beasts. The inscription between them, on the side of the lid, names the Ayyubid prince al-Malik al-Adil II, who ruled in Cairo from 1238 to 1240.\r\n\r\nIn Islamic art, objects made from base materials were often transformed by sophisticated forms of decoration. Brassware, like this piece, was often decorated with inlaid surface ornament.\r\n\r\nFor larger motifs, metalworkers chiselled out small areas of brass and filled them with thin sheets of silver, gold and copper. They added details by chasing the surface of the softer metals and contrast by using a black filler. \r\n\r\nThe inlay technique first became popular in eastern Persia (now Iran) in the mid 12th century. It then spread westwards and by 1250 was in use across the Middle East. Its popularity declined after 1500.","physicalDescription":"Brass box, cylindrical, the fitted cover with canted rim, damascened in silver depicting the heavens, with the sun, six planets and the signs of the zodiac. The sides illustrate life below with falconers hunting on horseback and  knights slaying mythical beasts. The inscription between them, on the side of the lid, names the Ayyubid prince al-Malik al-Adil II.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"damascened","id":"AAT54019"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brass, silver damascened and inscribed","categories":[{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"}],"styles":[{"text":"Islamic","id":"x29301"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006AF6894","2017KL6355"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"2E","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"42 (VA)","id":"THES49806"},"free":"","case":"2E","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Box","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Egypt","id":"x29512"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"Syria","id":"x29200"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1238-1240","earliest":"1238-01-01","latest":"1240-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"including lid","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"10.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Casket, brass, inlaid with zodiacal and princely imagery, Egypt or Syria, 1238-40.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Stanley Lane-Poole, <i>The Art of the Saracens in Egypt</i>, London, 1886, pp. 208-9."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"BOX\r\nBrass, damascened with silver.\r\nCover inscribed with the name and titles of El-Adil Abu Bekr II, Sultan of Egypt (1238-40), and decoration with the sun surrounded by the Six planets and the Signs of the Zodiac.\r\nOn the bottom, \"Made for the royal pantry of El-Adil\".\r\nEGYPTIAN; 1238 - 40","date":{"text":"Used until 11/2003","earliest":null,"latest":"2003-11-30"}},{"text":"Jameel Gallery \r\n\r\nCylindrical Casket\r\nEgypt or Syria\r\n1238-40\r\n\r\nThe lid depicts the heavens, with the sun, six planets and the signs of the zodiac. The sides illustrate life below: falconers hunt on horseback, knights slay mythical beasts. The inscription between them, on the side of the lid, names the Ayyubid prince al-Malik al-Adil II, who ruled in Cairo in 1238-40. \r\n\r\nBrass inlaid with silver and a black composition\r\n\r\nMuseum no. 8508-1863","date":{"text":"2006","earliest":"2006-01-01","latest":"2006-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["8508:2-1863","8508:1-1863"],"accessionNumberNum":"8508","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1863,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Lid","Box"],"assets":["2019LP9063","2019LR5599","2019LT2899","2019LT2818","2019LT9557","2019LW7773","2020MN9963"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-18","availableToBook":false}}