A VENETO-SARACENIC SILVER-INLAID BRASS BOWL Mamluk Egypt or Syria, 14th - 15th century Of hemispherical shape with a rounded base, the rim reinforced and slightly everted, the brass body inlaid with silver and black bitumen, the exterior with intertwining knotted bands filled with calligraphic cartouches alternating lotus flowers and arabesque roundels, vegetal scrolls below the rim and framing the calligraphic bands, the base with a virtuoso silver-inlaid starburst, each curved ray filled with scrolling vegetal tendrils, the interior engraved with the typical fish pattern, 13.5cm diam. A similarly-shaped Mamluk brass bowl with an intricate silver-inlaid base is part of the Hermitage collection in St. Petersburg (third room, first cabinet, acquired in 1896). This is dated to 15th century, suggesting a likely dating for our lot. (13.5cm diam)