Iran or India, early 17th century
Cast copper alloy inlaid with black composition
H. 30.2 cm; Max. Diam. 18.85 cm
Musée du Louvre, Musée des Arts décoratifs deposit, gift of Ernest May, 1910
MAO 722

This basin was originally accompanied by a ewer, now lost, which had exactly the same decoration. In wealthy families, it was the custom for two servants to bring in these basins before the ritual prayer, and also before and after meals.
The shape of this basin with its squat, spherical body on a ring-shaped base and its narrow neck flared at the top was common in India and Ottoman Turkey but rare in the rest of the Islamic world. The floral decor in registers is typical of Mughal art.