17th/18th century
The box is of cylindrical form and cast on the cover with an Arabic inscription surrounded by a border of demi- flowerheads and leaves, all on a granulated ground. The bronze is patinated to a dark chocolate-brown colour.
Diameter 10 cm
The calligraphy on this bronze box is a Chinese calligraphic form for the Arabic script known as sini script which was developed in the early Ming dynasty. An Arabic inscribed box and cover is illustrated in Sydney L. Moss, Emperor, Scholar, Artisan,Monk: The Creative Personality in Chinese Works of Art, London, 1984, op. 263-266
Provenance: A Belgian private collection
