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

LÁSZLÓ FERENCZY A SALJUK BRONZE PROM IRAN A PRESENT FROM SIR AUREL STEIN In the 1930-s, when he was in Budapest, Sir Aurel Stein presented the Francis Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Arts with a tripartite bronze. Zoltán Felvinczi Takáts, then director of the Museum, accepted it. According to his statement Sir Aurel Stein presented it to the Museum as a single piece in three parts belonging together; he said he had bought it in Iran. The object could not have been an item found in one of Stein's expeditions, as they were all in Museums. The bronze object was cleaned and treated three years ago. It consists of three separate but adjustable parts, each cast in bronze and each decorated with engraving (Fig. 1.). Presumably it had been found in the ground because the middle part was still full of earth. Except for some pieces broken off the object is in fairly good condition. The two lower parts are hollow. I shall give a detailed description of each part below. The lowest part of the stand is divided in two sections (Fig. 2.). The lowest section is concave in profile. Six Arabic inscriptions are engraved against a pattern of plants ; each Kufic inscription is followed by a Naskhi one. The bands with inscriptions are bordered by engraved double lines with concave ends. Between the inscriptions we find medallions of a plant pattern set in double frames. This concave bottom section is separated from the slightly narrower following section by a narrow rim decorated with a double plaited ribbon pattern. This upper section has but six small medallions framed with double lines and filled with an engraved floral ornament; they are placed exactly above the middle of the inscriptions below. This section again is separated from the central, semispherical part of the stand by a narrow rim decorated with a double plaited ribbon pattern. The decoration of this central section is placed in three zones. Around its base in double framed bands are three inscriptions in Kufic letters. Again the bands have concave closings. Between the bands of inscriptions, reaching into the second zone, are three large medallions engraved with siren-birds against a floral background. On a level with the medallions, above the three bands with inscriptions, are three unusual animal representations in relief. Directed slightly upwards to the left they portray resting quadrupeds, most probably lions, with their heads turned to the left. Their oblong bodies protrude about one or two millimetres. The head is indicated by a button-like protuberance set about one cm high from the base. The two legs on the left and 9 * 131