HALL OF METALWORK
The most employed metal in the manufacture of vessels and utensils is
the copper pure or in alloyed form as bronze and brass. This is because
of its flexibility for flattening and hammering out without
exposing it to heat. The copper may be left keeping its red
color, or may be whitened by tin. It may embellished by encrusting it
with some precious metal such as silver or gold. It may as well be
encrusted with precious stones, silver or gold or it may also be plated
with gold or silver.
Copper is generally engraved in depth to get the motifs clearly stand
out by incising or by hammering the background. Sometimes it is
ornamented with chiseling, openwork or repoussé . Its decorations are
then, in relief.
Damascus was famous for the art of encrusting, and the word expresses
this craft in European languages is derived from Damascus i.e.
Damasquinage ( damascening ). Aleppo and al-Mawsil were also famous for
this craft and Damascus excelled in the manufacture of steed
and different kinds of arms.
In the decoration of the traditional copper vessels. the
artist used to adorn the parts of the vessel with what suits its shape,
for example: the beak is adorned with light decorations; a band bearing
floral motifs arid sometimes epigraphs are put round the neck. The trunk
is encircled after that by a large belt which the artist furnishes in
several parts, with medallions containing human and animal figures or
stylized floral motifs. He may as well distribute small medallions on or
under the belt, putting in their place garlands. He may also place
cartridges which he covers with epigraphic motifs and makes them
alternate with the medallions and with the circles which contain the
animal figures or the stylized floral and interwove motifs .
As for the inscriptions figured on the copper vessels, they may be texts
of identification, giving the name of the King or the Prince for whom
the vessel is manufactured ,sometimes the name of
artisan is mentioned. The inscriptions are, for the most part, rhymed
and express phrases such as:
" al-ez ad-Da’em wa’l Omr as-Salem " ( the permanent glory and the
perfect age). They may also give a vague identification of
the dynasty in power: " Glory to our Master al-Makhdumi al-Malki
an-Nasiri ". These traditional inscriptions persisted until the Ottoman
Period.
The oldest copper piece is the pitcher found at Fayymn in Egypt. It is
related to the Umayyad Period . In the Museum of
Damascus, the oldest copper piece is exhibited in the showcase of
metalwork of the Hall of ar-Raqqah . It dates back to the third century
A.H. = 9 A.D. It may be noted that the pitcher of Fayyum resembles the
terracotta pitcher of the same period.
Samples of the charming Arabic decorations :
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