The Seljuk period in the history of art extends
for approximately two centuries from the
Seljuk conquests in the second quarter of the
11th century to the establishment of the
Ilkhan dynasty in the second quarter of the
13th century. During this period, the centre
of power within the Islamic world shifted from
the Arab territories to Anatolia and Iran, with
the traditional centres now residing in the
Seljuk capitals; Merv, Nishapur, Rayy and
Isfahan.
During the Seljuk period, metalwork was
particularly widespread with extremely high
levels of workmanship. Bronze was by far the
most widely spread metal during the 11th and
12th centuries.
This Seljuk bowl consists of rounded sides on
a short fluted foot, the sides, divided into two
registers depicting pursuant hares and split
palmettes on a scrolling vine ground. The
method used in creating this relief bowl
involved the hammering or punching a sheet
metal from the back. The metal is usually
hammered into a prepared mold, then final
details are engraved on the front of the relief.
The Seljuk period was undoubtedly one of the
most intensively creative periods in the history
of the Islamic world. It displayed splendid
achievements in every artistic field, with
subtle differences from one region to the next.
