Seljuk Bronze Vase - LK.151, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 9.5" (24.1cm) high x 6.25" (15.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk,  More »

Seljuk Bronze Vase - LK.151, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 9.5" (24.1cm) high x 6.25" (15.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Bronze. In the 9th century, hordes of nomadic Turkic horseman living on the outskirts of the Muslim world began to migrate westward into the heart of Central Asia. By the 10 century, a branch known as the House of Seljuk had broken off from the Oghuz confederation of Turkomen tribesmen, arrived into mainland Persia, and settled in the province of Khurasan. Overtime, the Seljuks converted to Islam and began to adopt the Persian language and culture. In the 11th century, the Seljuks set up an independent state under their leader Tugrul Bey with its capital in Isfahan, initially under the auspices of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. The arts thrived during the Seljuk period as the Turkic rulers patronized Persian culture, arts, and literature.   « Less

Seljuk Bronze Eagle with Inlaid Silver Eyes - AM.0403, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 5.25 " (13.3cm) high x 2.5 " (6.4cm) wide, Collection:  More »

Seljuk Bronze Eagle with Inlaid Silver Eyes - AM.0403, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 5.25 " (13.3cm) high x 2.5 " (6.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style: Seljuk Dynasty, Medium: Bronze, Silver. In the 9th century, hordes of nomadic Turkic horseman living on the outskirts of the Muslim world began to migrate westward into the heart of Central Asia. By the 10 century, a branch known as the House of Seljuk had broken off from the Oghuz confederation of Turkomen tribesmen, arrived into mainland Persia, and settled in the province of Khurasan. Overtime, the Seljuks converted to Islam and began to adopt the Persian language and culture. In the 11th century, the Seljuks set up an independent state under their leader Tugrul Bey with its capital in Isfahan, initially under the auspices of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. The arts thrived during the Seljuk period as the Turkic rulers patronized Persian culture, arts, and literature.   « Less

Seljuk Bronze Sculpture of a Lion - AM.0408, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1200 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style:  More »

Seljuk Bronze Sculpture of a Lion - AM.0408, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1200 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style: Seljuk Dynasty, Medium: Bronze. In the 9th century, hordes of nomadic Turkic horseman living on the outskirts of the Muslim world began to migrate westward into the heart of Central Asia. By the 10 century, a branch known as the House of Seljuk had broken off from the Oghuz confederation of Turkomen tribesmen, arrived into mainland Persia, and settled in the province of Khurasan. Overtime, the Seljuks converted to Islam and began to adopt the Persian language and culture. In the 11th century, the Seljuks set up an independent state under their leader Tugrul Bey with its capital in Isfahan, initially under the auspices of the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. The arts thrived during the Seljuk period as the Turkic rulers patronized Persian culture, arts, and literature.   « Less

Seljuk Bronze Bowl - CK.0154, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1037 AD to 1157 AD, Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high x 7.5" (19.1cm) wide x 1" (2.5cm) depth, Collection: Islamic  More »

Seljuk Bronze Bowl - CK.0154, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1037 AD to 1157 AD, Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high x 7.5" (19.1cm) wide x 1" (2.5cm) depth, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Bronze and Glass. The Seljuks were a Turkic dynasty of Central Asian nomadic origins. Having defeated the Ghaznavids in the eleventh century they took over Baghdad in 1055 A.D. At one point the empire stretched across Iran, Iraq and much of Anatolia. By the end of the eleventh century however dynastic disputes led to the division of these lands. The main branch- the so-called Great Seljuks- maintained control over Iran. This was a golden age for Islamic art typified by innovation and experimentation. In metalwork one of the most important developments was the practice of inlaying bronze or brass objects with precious metals such as copper, silver or gold. Bronze casting flourished and famous workshops were established in Khorasan and the surrounding area.   « Less

Safavid Bronze Bowl - CK.0155, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 16 th Century AD, Dimensions: 8.375" (21.3cm) high x 8.375" (21.3cm) wide x 2.375" (6.0cm) depth, Collection:  More »

Safavid Bronze Bowl - CK.0155, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 16 th Century AD, Dimensions: 8.375" (21.3cm) high x 8.375" (21.3cm) wide x 2.375" (6.0cm) depth, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Safavid, Medium: Bronze and Glass. The origins of the Safavid Dynasty can be traced back to the Safaviyeh Sufi order founded in the early 14th century in the city of Ardabil. From this base in northwestern Iran, the Safavids would go on to become the first native Persian dynasty to exert control over all of Iran since the fall of the Sassanids. Much like the ethnically diverse country they would rule, the Safavids were of mixed ancestry, including Kurdish, Greek, Azerbaijani, and Georgian lines. Although their religious roots were aligned with the Sunni Sufi order, by the early days of the 15th century, the Safavids switched sects, establishing the Twelver branch of Shiism as the official religion of the empire. The adoption of the Shia faith would have a profound impact on the future of Iran while bringing them into conflict with their Sunni neighbors, the Ottomans to the west and the Uzbeks to the northeast.   « Less

Ghaznavid Bronze Bowl - CK.0156, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 963 AD to 1187 AD, Dimensions: 8.625" (21.9cm) high x 8.625" (21.9cm) wide x 2.5" (6.4cm) depth, Collection:  More »

Ghaznavid Bronze Bowl - CK.0156, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 963 AD to 1187 AD, Dimensions: 8.625" (21.9cm) high x 8.625" (21.9cm) wide x 2.5" (6.4cm) depth, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Ghaznavid, Medium: Metal Alloy. Metalwork in the Near East and Central Asia has always enjoyed a prestige beyond that of other applied arts such as ceramics and textiles. Major pieces were specially commissioned and often bear dedications to the princes and great nobles for whom they were made, together with the proudly inscribed names of their makers and decorators; their very durability and impressive appearance give them a high standing and dignity of their own. The best pieces were in bronze, either engraved, inlaid, overlaid or beaten in repousse', that is hammered out from behind of designs to appear in relief on the surface. The roots of Islamic metalwork are to be found in Byzantium and Persia. In the early 7th century the Arabs took over these two great empires and absorbed local metal techniques and typologies, and contributed to a new development in metalwork by adding inscriptions in kufic script. Not much is known of the art of metalwork in Persia and Central Asia in the early Islamic period, with the exception of few large dishes datable to the Ghaznavids.   « Less

Qajar Bronze Vessel - CK.0267, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 19 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high x 4.375" (11.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Qajar,  More »

Qajar Bronze Vessel - CK.0267, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 19 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high x 4.375" (11.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Qajar, Medium: Bronze. From their roots as a Turkmen tribe of shepherd- warriors centered in Azerbaijan, the Qajar Dynasty would become a fully assimilated Perso- Islamic monarchy that reunified Persia and, through their modernization programs, laid the foundation for the modern nation-state now known as Iran. Following the demise of the Safavid Dynasty, various regional centers of powers emerged, including the Zand Dynasty that controlled the south. In 1779, after the death of the Zand leader, Agha Mohammed Khan, the founder of the Qajar Dynasty, set out to reunify Persia under the Qajar banner. By 1794, Agha Mohammed Khan had defeated his internal rivals and reestablished Persian sovereignty over territories in Georgia and the Caucasus previously lost to foreign powers. These territorial gains would not last long, however, as the Qajaris soon found themselves in direct conflict with the imperial aspirations of Russia and Britain. Fath Ali Shah, who rose to the throne following the assassination of Agha Mohammed in 1797, presided over a period of disastrous conflicts with Russia, which resulted in an acknowledgement of Russian sovereignty over Georgia and later the entire South Caucasus region north of the Aras River.   « Less

Qajar Bronze Vessel - CK.0268, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 19 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high x 4.375" (11.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Qajar,  More »

Qajar Bronze Vessel - CK.0268, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 19 th Century AD, Dimensions: 5.5" (14.0cm) high x 4.375" (11.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Qajar, Medium: Bronze. From their roots as a Turkmen tribe of shepherd- warriors centered in Azerbaijan, the Qajar Dynasty would become a fully assimilated Perso- Islamic monarchy that reunified Persia and, through their modernization programs, laid the foundation for the modern nation-state now known as Iran. Following the demise of the Safavid Dynasty, various regional centers of powers emerged, including the Zand Dynasty that controlled the south. In 1779, after the death of the Zand leader, Agha Mohammed Khan, the founder of the Qajar Dynasty, set out to reunify Persia under the Qajar banner. By 1794, Agha Mohammed Khan had defeated his internal rivals and reestablished Persian sovereignty over territories in Georgia and the Caucasus previously lost to foreign powers. These territorial gains would not last long, however, as the Qajaris soon found themselves in direct conflict with the imperial aspirations of Russia and Britain. Fath Ali Shah, who rose to the throne following the assassination of Agha Mohammed in 1797, presided over a period of disastrous conflicts with Russia, which resulted in an acknowledgement of Russian sovereignty over Georgia and later the entire South Caucasus region north of the Aras River.   « Less

Seljuk Bronze Ewer - RP.059, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 14 th Century AD, Dimensions: 11.25" (28.6cm) high x 5.25" (13.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk,  More »

Seljuk Bronze Ewer - RP.059, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 14 th Century AD, Dimensions: 11.25" (28.6cm) high x 5.25" (13.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Bronze.   « Less

Incised Bronze Inkwell (Mihbara) - RP.123, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 3.2" (8.1cm) high x 2.74" (7.0cm) wide, Collection:  More »

Incised Bronze Inkwell (Mihbara) - RP.123, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Dimensions: 3.2" (8.1cm) high x 2.74" (7.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Bronze.   « Less