Bowl-shaped box with cover of engraved brass with silver inlay, 1500-1625 (metalworked brass & silver...

Iran (North or North West) or Anatolia (Turkey) or Mamluk Sultanate. Many small boxes like these were made for export to Europe from the Middle East in the later 15th and early 16th century. The lids fit so snugly that they are almost airtight and they may have been intended to hold spices. ‘Made by the Master Mahmud’ is inscribed on the rim in Arabic and has also been transliterated into Latin letters – but not translated. Perhaps by using Latin script the craftsman was hoping to encourage the European merchant who commissioned the bowl to return to his workshop for future orders.