This  Mamluk brass tray is of circular form with short raised sides, with incised and formerly inlaid decoration composed of a central roundel featuring a radial inscription within a flowerhead, further encircled by a broad band of bold thuluth punctuated by three roundels containing palmettes, further inscriptions near centre, external edge with incised foliate details, underside with one further inscription.

`During the Mamluk period, luxury objects such as the present tray were produced in specialised workshops. Such production was fuelled by the strong tradition of patronage, especially relating to architectural projects, across the Mamluk domains of Egypt, Syria, and the Hijaz. With the construction of new religious buildings such as mosques and madrasas, and also with secular urban expansion, there was an increased demand for the manufacture of both practical and ornamental objects. The program of urban and cultural expansion stimulated production of glass and metalwork. This tray is particularly interesting as it features references to the patronage of two women: Amina bint Ahmad and Zahra bint Akh Qasri. 

Inscriptions

'The High Authority, the Lordly, the Possessor, the Learned, the Diligent, the Just, the Possessor, the Vice-Royal, the Perfect, the Pillar, the Shelter, the Well-Ordered, the Guardian, the Supporter, the (officer of) al-Malik al-Nasir’

Owner’s inscriptions around the centre, starting with the smallest and proceeding clockwise: ‘On the order of Amina(?) bint Ahmad' - ‘Zahra bint Akh Qasri(?)" - ‘On the order of Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi' - ’Then on the order of Ibrahim ibn Ahmad' - ‘Akh Qasri(?)’

On the underside: ‘Al-Sayyid al-Mu'id Tabi’