Cleveland Museum of Art

Tray Portraying Courtly Pleasures

Date

1240s

Medium

sheet brass inlaid with silver

Culture

Syria, Ayyubid period (1171–1260)

Department

Islamic Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This tray features images of courtly life interspersed with astronomical symbols. The scenes contained within large multilobed medallions display an enthroned prince with lions at his feet, a banquet, a hunt, dancers, and musicians. Contained within the concentric circles there are also references to solar and lunar motifs, including figures holding sunbursts and lunar crescents. This tray is made of a single sheet of brass and the silver inlay, which is best preserved on the tray’s inner curve, suggests its original brilliance.

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