A MAMLUK BOWL Egypt, 15th century Copper with incised decoration, of flattened bulbous form, the sides with rope twist and geometrical decoration with three thuluth inscriptions, the interior with spiral and circle and dot decoration, traces of original tin plating in places 8.5cm high; 19.5cm diam The inscriptions are three hemstitches from an Arabic quatrain: "You have reached the highest rank as regard to greatness/And grace of God has joined you on every side/May you not cease to be in demand [and stretch forth/Your right hand in the World in order to obtain your wishes] (The bracketed section is the part of the quatrain which does not appear here).