Bulletin du Musée National de Varsovie (37.1996)

The entire interior and exterior surface of the bowl is covered with inscrip-
tions written in the small script of nashi and larger letters of nastahk. These
inscriptions are arranged in cartouches, medallions and strips, while the figu-
rai representations are placed in medallions and encircled by floral ornamen-
tation.

4. Exterior of the Muslim
Magical-Medicinal Bowl,
Warsaw, Muzeum Narodowe

As is announced by a caption placed in the sign of Capricorn, the bowl be-
longed to Semahane (the hall of ceremonial rites in the monastery of the
Mevlevites) Imam Husayn Hamud and was listed as a waqf, signifying its use
for religious, charitable purposes. Consequently, it could have been used dur-
ing the ceremony of ainijam, the spiritual unification of the dervishes with the
Highest Truth.

The Bowl’s Decoration

The bowl’s internal surface is divided into strips arranged in three sequels.
The upper part consists of cartouches with inscriptions, the middle band fea-
tures three series of interconnecting medahil (trefoils) filled with inscriptions.
The central sequel is taken up with figurai representations surrounded by flo-
ral ornamentation. The lower band encircling the mendiscus and the four car-
touches are taken up by inscriptions in large nasta’hk script, these also being
surrounded by ornamentation of floral motifs. The mendiscus itself features
a circle containing a figurai representation surrounded by five trefoil leaves.
The bottom of the bowl reveals the epithets of Allah: an-Nafi’ (He who

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