Weiner Mihályné szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 8. (Budapest, 1965)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM — MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Ferenczy, László: A Saljuk bronze from Iran. A present from Sir Aurel Stein

opening of the vase-shaped middle part into which the stand locks, indicates it was not a separate object. Similarly, the upper tray cannot be regarded as a separate object since, because of the protrusion at its base, it cannot stand by itself and needs to be placed on some kind of stand. 3. All three parts bear an identical decorative motif: a medallion encircled by a double engraved line, with a small circle at the top. 4. The arrangement of the inscriptions are alike on all three parts : the band of inscriptions is bordered by a double engraved line, which at the ends is closed by a concave arch. Between the inscriptions we always see a small medallion. These inscriptions, conveying the usual good wishes, are written in Kufic and Naskhi letters. Kufic inscriptions recur on all three parts. 5. As mentioned before, so far I have not found any similar piece shown, either in the literature or in the miniatures of that time. However, we do find examples of Islamic metal objects that were made by fitting parts together. R. Harari accounted of three such objects — two candlesticks and a stand — in the „Survey"; but neither the lower, nor the upper parts are the same as our piece and are also of a later date.

1 In the Institute of Arts at Detroit there is a 13th century candlestick which seems to be of two parts fitted together and the two ends of its upper part are similar to the mid-part of our bronze.

2 1 Harari, E,: Metalwork after the early Islamic period, in A Survey of Persian Art, ed. A. U.Pope. London and New York, 1938-39. Pis. 1283/A, 1373/A and Fig. 834. 2 Persian Art. An Illustrated Souvenir of the Exhibition of Persian Art at Burlington House. London, 1931, p. 18. Fig. 2. Stand of the tripartite Saljuk bronze, Iian